Prevalence of Psychotropic Drug Use among Medical, Dentistry, and Pharmacy Students at the University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq

Aljabran, Saifali J.; Abbas, Shaymaa F; Kadhem, Bainat Aqeel

doi:10.33091/amj.2025.159115.2195

	Prevalence of Psychotropic Drug Use among Medical, Dentistry, and Pharmacy Students at the University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq
Al- Anbar Medical Journal
Volume 21, Issue 4, October 2025, Pages 236-241 PDF (687.03 K)
Document Type: Original articles
DOI: 10.33091/amj.2025.159115.2195
Authors
Saifali J. Aljabran^* ¹; Shaymaa F Abbas²; Bainat Aqeel Kadhem³
¹Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq
²Department of Pharmacology, Alzahraa College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Basra, Iraq
³Basra Teaching Hospital, Basra health directorate, Basra, Iraq
Abstract
Background: The mental health of university students, particularly those in the medical field, is a topic of growing concern due to the demanding nature of their education. Objectives: To examine the prevalence of psychotropic drug use among university students in the health sector and explore the factors influencing their consumption. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2024 at the University of Basrah across four colleges: the College of Medicine, Al-Zahraa College of Medicine, the College of Dentistry, and the College of Pharmacy. An online self-administered questionnaire was emailed to 2,811 students aged ≥18 years, with 715 responding. The survey covered demographics, psychotropic drug use, and psychological and social factors. Results: The present prevalence of psychotropic drug usage was 8.7% among the 715 participants. Out of 715 participants, 504 were students of the College of Medicine, of whom 48 students were utilized psychotropic medications (9.5%). Additionally, a strong association was observed between a history of psychological illness and drug use, as 90.6% (56) of students with psychotropic drug use reported a diagnosed psychological illness, compared to only 41.2% (6) who claimed the use of psychotropic drugs without clear or diagnosed psychological illness (P -value < 0.001). Among the commonly used drug classes, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most frequently used, reported by 32 students (4.4%), followed by antipsychotic medications (n = 18, 2.5%), tricyclic antidepressants (n = 15, 2.1%), and sedative anxiolytics (n = 32, 4.4%). Conclusion: The study highlights a notable prevalence of psychotropic drug use among medical students, along with various associated factors. It offers insightful data and suggestions for institutional educational initiatives to enhance students' mental health.
Keywords
Psychotropic drug; University students; Depression; Anxiety

Statistics Article View: 333 PDF Download: 293