Prevalence and Characteristic of Headache in Dental Professionals: A Questionnaire Based Survey

Epidemiology of Primary Headache and Its Associated Psychosocial Factors Amongst Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Vidarbha Region

Introduction The present study was carried out to investigate the epidemiology of primary headaches amongst undergraduate medical students by determining the prevalence of primary headaches and their associated psychosocial factors. Methods A cross‑sectional study was conducted at a medical college in the Vidarbha region of India from January 2023 to February 2023 amongst 471 medical students. Diagnosis of tension-type headache (TTH) was made according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria. Data were collected by interview technique using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. that consisted of socio-demographic variables and psychosocial factors. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).  Results Prevalence of headache was 80% and was higher in females (87%) than in males (71%). TTH is the most common type with a prevalence of 76% in females followed by 64% in males. Psychosocial factors associated with presence of headache in study subjects were disappointment in relation to academic performance (OR 3.85, CI 1.68-2.71), poor socio-economic status (OR 2.69, CI 1.58-4.57), work overload (OR 0.41, CI 0.24-0.68), irritability (OR 0.33, CI 0.19-0.57) and frequent conflicts (OR 1.45, CI 0.78-2.70). Stress (OR 0.27, CI 0.11-0.71) and anxiety (OR 3.45, CI 1.31-9.08) were associated with headaches only in females and depression (OR 0.50, CI 0.25-1.01) was found to be associated with headaches only in males. Conclusions Psychosocial factors from the personal sphere like stress, overwork, and anxiety were highly prevalent amongst students and these factors need to be addressed meticulously in order to mitigate the problem of primary headache disorders amongst medical undergraduates.

Stress, Anxiety and Depression among a Cohort of Health Sciences Undergraduate Students: The Prevalence and Risk Factors

Stress, anxiety, and depression (SAD) have a negative impact on the learning and academic performance of university students. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, as well as the risk factors associated with SAD among a cohort of students pursuing undergraduate degree courses in health sciences. This is part of the strategy in building a healthy nation. A questionnaire containing socio-demographic factors and the short version of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to assess the likelihood of psychological distress. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the risk factors of SAD. In total, 449 students completed the questionnaire (93.9% response rate). Of these, 65% had stress, 85.1% had anxiety and 51.4% had depression. Most cases of stress (74.6%) and depression (66.2%) were of normal-to-mild level, while 74.6% of them showed moderate-to-extremely severe anxiety. There was a statistically significant association between stress score and the year of study. In the regression analysis, poor sleep quality and fatigue were risk factors of anxiety and depression, whereas low-grade fever and frequent headaches were risk factors for stress and anxiety. Stress, anxiety, and depression scores were significantly higher among students studying medical imaging. A substantial proportion of health science students are suffering from SAD. This study recommends screening and close monitoring of the above-mentioned predictors and the formulation of comprehensive intervention strategies for students with SAD.

Psychophysiological effects of yoga on stress in college students

College students are vulnerable to a critical period in developmental maturation, facing rigorous academic work, and learning how to function independently. Physical activities such as running and bicycling have been shown to improve mood and relieve stress. However, college students often have low levels of physical activity. Yoga is an ancient physical and mental activity that affects mood and stress. However, studies examining the psychophysiological effects of yoga are rare in peer-reviewed journals. The aim of this study is to establish preliminary evidence for the psychophysiological effects of yoga on stress in young-adult college students. The present study suggests that yoga has positive effects on a psychophysiological level that leads to decreased levels of stress in college student. Further research is needed to examine the extent to which different types of yogic practices address the needs of different college subpopulations (e.g., overweight, sedentary, and smokers).