Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety among Patients in Internal and Surgical Wards

The study was designed to determine the rate of prevalence of depression and anxiety among the patients in internal and surgical wards, and further to illustrate the correlates of these disorders with the population sample. Method 250 in-patients of Internal and Surgical wards of General Hospital No.1, and Bahonar General Hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences were selected through convenient sampling during a four month period. They were assessed through a questionnaire, which comprised 23 items related to depression and anxiety dimensions of SCL-90-R. The data were analysed through t-tests, analysis of variance, ANOVA, and Chi square. Findings Analysis of prevalence of depression indicated that the highest rate of affliction belonged to the female patients in Internal ward with 71%; the male patients in Surgical Ward obtained the least rate of prevalence of depression with 39%. The average rate of prevalence of depression in various wards was 53.6%. Prevalence of anxiety was highest among female patients in the Internal wards (65%). Male patients in Surgical ward obtained the lowest rate of prevalence of anxiety. The average rate of prevalence of anxiety in various wards was 50.4%. Regardless of gender, depression and anxiety were found to be more prevalent in internal wards than the surgial wards. Moreover, the difference between prevalence of anxiety in the two wards was statistically significant, and the rate of prevalence of anxiety was greater in internal ward than in surgical wards. Results Depression and anxiety are more prevalent amongst the inpatients than the general public and the inpatient woman indicated the higest rate of prevalence of depression and anxiety than the other groups.