Neurotic Depression and Chocolate among Female Medical Students at College of Medicine, Taibah University Almadinah Almunawwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Objectives To evaluate study the prevalence and levels of neurotic depression among female students at the College of Medicine, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to verify its relation to their chocolate eating habits. Methods A cross sectional study including 295 female students from all grades at the College of Medicine was carried out. A specially designed questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory II were used. Statistical analysis was done using percent, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test and correlation. Results The mean age participants was 21.6 +/- 1.7 years, 94.9% were single. Nearly two thirds (60.3%) has mild depression while the remaining (39.7%) had either moderate or severe depression; with a significant relationship between grades (P=0.005). Risk and associated factors for depression were marital status, grade, family issues, personal issues, health status, and chocolate eating habits (OR=0.8, 1.3, 0.2, 0.4, 2.3 and 0.8 respectively). Depression was correlated to chocolate eating (r=0.5, P=0.005), amount of chocolate consumed (r=0.3, P=0.001), sugar content of chocolate (r=-0.613, P=0.021), alleviation of symptoms after chocolate eating (r=0.4, P=0.023). Conclusion Depression is a prevalent psychiatric problem among female students in the College of Medicine that needs attention. Furthermore, chocolate eating habits seem to have a direct positive effect on depression.