Research Article | Open Access
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DEPRESSION AMONG OUTPATIENTS IN A PRIVATE COLLEGE, CHENNAI
K. Esha Gayathri L. Leelavathi
Pages: 629-649
Abstract
Background: Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can
decrease your ability to function at work and at home. Mental wellbeing and mental illness are often
ignored in our health-care system's patient treatment.
Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding depression
among outpatients.
Materials and methods: This study is a questionnaire-based survey to evaluate the knowledge
about depression among 140 outpatients. The data collected in google forms and analysed in SPSS
software. Descriptive statistics and chi square test were used to analyse the data.
Results: The present study includes 140 participants. 67.1% were males and 32.1% were female.
About 70.5 % of the study participants felt depressed. Majority (57.55%) of the study population
think that depression is caused by witchcraft, charm and evil spirits. Majority (61.87%) of the
population think that becoming depressed is a natural part of becoming old. Majority (68.35%) of
the population think that biochemical abnormality is the basis of more severe depression, however
females were comparatively more aware than males and this difference was found to be statistically
significant. ( p value is 0.010)
Conclusion: More than half of the participants reported to be depressed. Awareness about
depression was found to be low among participants. The knowledge gap can be fulfilled by creating
awareness about depression among the participants.
Keywords
depression, medication, health problem, biochemical abnormality, innovative analysis