SIGECAPS

SIGECAPS is a mnemonic that we went over in Pharm while learning about Anti-depression medications. It stands for the following:

Sleep disturbance
Interest (lack of)
Guilt
Energy (lack of)
Concentration (lack of)
Appetite changes
Psychomotor retardation
Suicidal ideations

So if you have 5 out of those 8 criteria, you are clinically depressed and should be treated for depression.

Now, I share that with you to share this. Call it Med School Syndrome, or hypochondriac or whatever you wanna call it, but I would say that over 50% of med students have at least 5 of those 8 (Suicidal ideations may be a little over the top for most however).

Since I have been in med school have I had:
Sleep disturbances? CHECK
Lack of interest in things I used to love? CHECK
Guilt (maybe from not studying, or failing an exam)? CHECK
Lack of energy? CHECK
Lack of concentration? CHECK
Appetite changes? CHECK
Psychomotor retardation? Nah... ok there.
Suicidal ideations? Nope.

So, lets count that up shall we? 1...2...3...4...5...6  6 out of 8. And I said earlier that 5/8 is clinically depressed. And I guarantee I could find you AT LEAST 50% of my class that would have to say yes to at least 5 of those criteria as well. If many of them say no, they are lying.

Needless to say, Med School can easily make you clinically depressed. Not to say that you actually are depressed like some other people who suffer from depression, but the signs point right to it!

Studies have shown that 1 in 5 medical students do suffer from depression. Now, if you apply those criteria more generally to anyone, not suffering from depressed moods, those numbers would go up a lot!

I will tell you that I am by no means depressed, but as far as the criteria are applied, I fit the mold.

Just some food for thought! :)