Pattern of Psychiatric Morbidity among Final-Year Medical Students in a Private Faith-Based University in Nigeria: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Background: Medical education is demanding and is associated with substantial psychological stress. Final-year medical students may be particularly vulnerable. Aim: This study examined the pattern of psychiatric morbidity among final-year medical students in a faith-based medical school and explored their experiences, coping strategies, spirituality, stigma, and help-seeking behaviours. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed with convenience sampling. The quantitative component consisted of a cross-sectional design. Sociodemographic and other relevant information were collected using a structured questionnaire, while psychiatric morbidity was assessed using a validated screening instrument (GHQ-12). The qualitative component comprised focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) exploring psychological distress, academic and clinical stressors, spirituality, coping, stigma, institutional support, and help-seeking. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 16. Results: The majority of respondents were aged 15-25 years, and most were female, 25 (83.3%), while 29 (96.7%) were Christians. None was married, but 8 (24.1%) were dating. The majority, 23 (76.7%), lived on 10,000-20,000 Naira monthly, while only 4 (13.3%) lived on >50,000 Naira. Most, 24 (80.0%), belonged to the middle socioeconomic class, while 6 (20.0%) were in the upper socioeconomic class. None had a previous history of mental illness, while 6 (20%) consumed alcohol and no one took psychoactive substances. Using the GHQ-12 threshold of ≥3, 46.7% of students screened positive for possible psychiatric morbidity. FGDs and KIIs yielded varied responses. Conclusion: This mixed-methods study demonstrates psychological distress among final-year medical students within a private faith-based Nigerian university. The qualitative findings suggest that the problem is silence about the symptoms. Future empirical research could expand the scope of the topic across multiple universities for broader representation of these findings.