Prevalence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder among international medical students from conflict zones versus non-conflict areas: a cross-sectional study.

Authors

Manar M Ellaban, Sally M Bashandy, Ziad Y El-Yamanay, Reham O Alebiary, Salma S Osman, Yosra S Abd El-Ghaffar

Published in

The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association. Volume 101. Issue 1. Jul 24, 2026. Epub Jul 24, 2026.

Abstract

International medical students face elevated risks of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance, and a sense of threat per ICD-11), and complex PTSD (C-PTSD; encompassing core PTSD symptoms alongside disturbances in self-organization, including emotion dysregulation, negative self-concept, and relationship difficulties). This study aims to determine the prevalence of these conditions among students at Ain Shams University (n = 310) and to compare those from conflict-affected regions with those from non-conflict regions.
This analytical cross-sectional survey (October 2024-January 2025) employed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress 21 Scale (DASS-21) and the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Students experienced a high symptom burden: 36.5% had extremely severe depression, 42.3% had extremely severe anxiety, and 18.4% had extremely severe stress. PTSD was identified in 18.4% of students, while C-PTSD was identified in 21.5%. Students from conflict-affected regions exhibited significantly higher rates across all outcomes compared with non-conflict peers (depression, anxiety, stress, PTSD, and C-PTSD: all p < 0.05).
International medical students, particularly from conflict-affected areas, exhibit substantial mental health problems. The prevalence of C-PTSD (21.5%) exceeded that of PTSD (18.4%), underscoring chronic trauma impact. Targeted interventions-trauma-informed counseling, peer support, and resilience training-are urgently needed. Findings provide baseline data for the development of culturally sensitive mental health programs at Ain Shams University and similar institutions.

PMID:
42496924
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Jul 2026.

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