Methodological aspects of international research on the burden of anxiety and depression in medical students

The burden of mental health impairment in medical students is among the important subjects of international research on mental health prevention. Evidence shows that medical students have a higher prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety than the general population. This paper describes some of the methodological aspects concerning research on the burden of anxiety and depression in medical students as an extract of a systematic review. One result of the systematic review is the highly heterogeneous country contexts, methods and instruments applied. Further research should explicitly address and control for these factors, to ease international comparison of prevalence rates.