PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are frequently reported among medical students, yet evidence from Pakistan is scarce. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence, severity, and demographic correlates of OCS among medical students in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Using convenience sampling, 499 MBBS and BDS students (69.1% male; Mage = 20.38 years, SD = 1.50) completed a demographic sheet and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory–Revised (OCI-R). Clinically significant OCS (OCI-R ≥ 21) were present in 37.5% of students (95% CI [33.3, 41.8]). The mean total score was 18.42 (SD = 9.87), and the OCI-R showed good internal consistency (α = .84). Severity was distributed across the normal (19.6%), mild (26.5%), moderate (16.4%), severe (23.8%), and extreme (13.6%) bands. OCI-R scores did not differ significantly by gender, t(485) = 1.214, p = .225, d = 0.12; academic year, F(4, 494) = 0.872, p = .481, η² = .007; or age, r(497) = .04, p = .420. Prevalence was well above general-population estimates and within the range reported for medical students internationally. These findings support routine mental health screening and accessible psychological support for medical students across all years of study. Limitations include convenience sampling and reliance on a self-report screening measure.