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Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and determinants of burnout syndrome and depression among medical students at Unaizah College of Medicine (UCM), Qassim University, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A cross-sectional study of all Saudi medical students studying at UCM, Qassim University, Al Qassim, KSA, between February to March 2020. Results: Of the total 305 students sampled, 153 (50.2%) fit the category of depression. Concerning burnout, only 5.6% of the total population met the Maslach Burnout Inventorydiagnostic criteria for burnout, with those determined to have burnout having ranked high on the emotional exhaustion and cynicism subscales, and low on the academic efficacy subscale. Male was strongly associated with burnout, while female gender and raising children were strongly associated with the presence of depression. Emotional exhaustion and high cynicism as determinants of burnout elevate the risk of depression. Conclusion: Our results highlight the high rate of depression and burnout, as well as the need for psychological intervention programs at medical schools to prevent the deterioration of student's mental health that has been associated with advancement in medical school.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging infection causing a widely spread pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current COVID-2019 pandemic is prompting fear of falling sick, dying, helplessness and stigma, urgent and timely understanding of mental health status is needed to help the community. Our investigation designed to survey the general population in Saudi Arabia to assess the degree of psychological impact during the pandemic., Methods: During the early stage of the outbreak, we conducted an online-based survey using a snowballing sample technique. The surveys collected data about several aspects of participant sociodemographic, knowledge, concerns, psychological impact, and mental health status. We assessed the psychological impact and mental health status using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21)., Results: Our survey recruited 1160 respondents of the general public of Saudi Arabia. Of them, 23.6% reported moderate or severe psychological impact of the outbreak, 28.3%,24%, and 22.3% reported moderate to severe depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms, respectively. Females reported IES-R (B: 5.46, 95% CI: 3.61 to 7.31) and DASS subscales B coefficient ranged from 1.65 to 2.63, along with high-school students, working in the medical field, and poor self-reported health status was significantly associated with a high level of IES-R and DASS scales (p < .05). Experiencing breathing difficulty and dizziness showed a stronger association with higher IES-R and DASS subscales than other somatic symptoms (e.g., headache and fever);(p < .001). Respondents who practiced specific preventative measures (e.g., hand washing, social distancing) demonstrated a protective effect against stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Social distancing appeared to be protective on stress and anxiety subscales (B: -1.49, 95% CI: -2.79 to -0.19),(B: -1.53, 95% CI: -2.50 to -0.57),respectively; and hand hygiene on depression subscale (B: -2.43, 95% CI: -4.44 to -0.42)., Conclusion: Throughout the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia, the results showed that nearly one-fourth of the sampled general population experienced moderate to severe psychological impact. Following specific precautionary measures appeared to have a protective effect on the individual's mental health. Our findings can be used to construct psychological interventions directed toward vulnerable populations and to implement public mental health strategies in the early stages of the outbreak., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

ABSTRACT: Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine fatigue syndrome (FS) prevalence and its association with depression and anxiety among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: An online survey was performed using a pretested questionnaire comprising four sections: sociodemographic information, the 11-item Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. A total of 740 medical students participated in the cross-sectional study. Results: The study found that 56.4% of the students met the diagnostic criteria for FS, with female students (69.7%) showing higher FS prevalence compared to male students (30.3%). FS was significantly associated with symptoms of depression (r = 0.68, P < 0.001) and anxiety (r = 0.54, P < 0.001). Other factors associated with higher FS scores included higher body mass index, lack of physical activity, and a history of substance use. Conclusion: FS is highly prevalent among medical students in Saudi Arabia, particularly among females. The association between FS and mental health symptoms underscores the need for targeted interventions to manage FS and its psychological impact in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]