PREVALANCE AND SEVERITY OF DEPRESSION IN HOUSE OFFICERS WORKING IN TEACHING DENTAL HOSPITALS OF PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN
1Dr Zahir Dad Khan, 2Abdul Adil Khan, 3Qazi Haris Wadan, 4Sara Tayabzada, 5Asif Nawaz, 6Muhammad Yousaf Ali
Submission: 28 January 2026 | Acceptance: 29 January 2026 | Publication: 21 February 2026
1Post Graduate Resident Prosthodontics, Islamabad Dental Hospital
2Post Graduate Resident Prosthodontics, Sardar Begum Dental College
3Post Graduate Resident Prosthodontics, Sardar Begum Dental College,
4BDS
5Post Graduate Resident Prosthodontics, Sardar Begum Dental College
6Associate Professor Fatima Jinnah Institute of Dental Sciences Lahore
Abstract
Background: Mental health challenges, including depression, are increasingly recognized among healthcare professionals. The characteristics of depression are loss of interest, sadness and impaired daily functioning. House officers in dental teaching hospitals are particularly susceptible to depression due to their demanding roles. This study investigates the frequency and severity of depression among house officers working in teaching dental hospitals in Pakistan.
Methods: This cross-sectional study took place from July 1st to November 1st, 2022, involving 210 house officers from four teaching dental hospitals in Peshawar. Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was utilized to assess depression. The participants were placed in four groups on the basis of their scores.
Results: 210 participants took part in our study, 99(47%) were male and 111 (53%) female, the mean age was 24.08 years (±1.119). 40.9% of the participants experienced some form of depression, predominantly in the moderate depression category (22.4%). Severe depression was observed in 6.7% of the participants. Association between gender was statistically significant with depression (p=0.039).
Conclusion: A considerable proportion of house officers in dental teaching hospitals experience depressive symptoms, with females showing higher prevalence and severity.
Keywords: Depression, Dentists, Burnout, House officers, Mental Health.