The relationship between academic performance and severity of depressed mood during medical school. Compr Psychiatry 1988;29(4):409-20
Date
07/01/1988Pubmed ID
3409694DOI
10.1016/0010-440x(88)90022-3Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0023802695 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 17 CitationsAbstract
We employ a structural equation model to examine the relationship between academic performance and depressed mood over 4 years for a single medical school class. Academic performance measures included undergraduate gradepoint average, first- and second-year medical school gradepoint average, full Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and total National Boards Part I (NB) scores. Severity of depressed mood was assessed by administering the Beck Depression Inventory two times per year during the first 2 years, and once per year during the last 2 years. Overall there is little reason to think that depressive mood states compromise academic performance during the first 2 years of medical school for the class as a whole. Medical school grades had no direct impact on depressed mood, and mood had no direct impact on grades. There was a non-significant tendency for mood in the months preceding National Boards Part I to influence Board scores, which in turn influenced mood. Students with higher college gradepoint averages consistently reported fewer depressive symptoms throughout medical school. The latter result directs attention to a subgroup of medical students less susceptible to depression, or less prone to admit distress or symptoms. The non-susceptible and/or minimizing qualities of this subgroup merit further investigation.
Author List
Clark DC, Daugherty SR, Zeldow PB, Gotterer GS, Hedeker DAuthor
David C. Clark PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the Research Office department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AchievementAdult
Depression
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Psychological Tests
Psychometrics
Students, Medical
