Medical student syndrome: Health anxiety in medical and allied health sciences students

Minal Akbar; Momina Jilani; Hamza Shafique; Muhammad Daniyal Chaudhary; Minahil Shahzad; Mehwish Qamar

doi:10.53685/jshmdc.v6i2.375

Authors

Minal Akbar 4th Year MBBS Student, Islam Medical & Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Momina Jilani 4th Year MBBS Student, Islam Medical & Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Hamza Shafique 4th Year MBBS Student, Islam Medical & Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Muhammad Daniyal Chaudhary 4th Year MBBS Student, Islam Medical & Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Minahil Shahzad 4th Year MBBS Student, Islam Medical & Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Mehwish Qamar Department of Physiology, University Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53685/jshmdc.v6i2.375

Keywords:

Medical Student Syndrome, Hypochondriasis, Health Anxiety, Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Background: Medical Student Syndrome (MSS) is a phenomenon in which medical students develop fears and symptoms related to the diseases they are studying, compromising their mental health and clinical performance.

Objective: To compare the presence of medical student syndrome among the students of medical sciences (MBBS and BDS) and Allied health sciences (Pharm-D and DPT).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Islam Medical and Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan, from September to November 2024. The study population comprised first- to final-year medical sciences (MBBS and BDS) and Allied health sciences (Pharm-D and DPT) students, excluding those with a history of psychological or endocrinological disorders. MSS was assessed using the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), a validated tool evaluating health-related anxiety specifically measuring components of hypochondriasis (excessive preoccupation with illness) and nosophobia (fear of developing serious diseases). A printed questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21.

Results: Among 625 students, medical sciences students had significantly higher total SHAI and hypochondriasis scores compared to allied health sciences students (p = 0.031 and p = 0.046, respectively), with MBBS students having the highest scores (overall discipline effect: p = 0.006). The frequency of MSS was 20% and was not associated with socio-demographic variables, although students with MSS had significantly higher hypochondriasis and nosophobia scores (p < 0.001). Year of study showed contrasting trends: a non-significant negative association among medical sciences students and a significant positive correlation among allied health sciences students for SHAI total, hypochondriasis, and nosophobia scores (p ≤ 0.01).

Conclusions: Both medical and allied health sciences students demonstrated a comparable frequency of MSS. However, medical sciences students, particularly males, exhibited higher levels of hypochondriasis, while progression with year of study was more pronounced for health anxiety among allied health sciences students.

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