PERSONALITY, LIFE-STYLES, ALCOHOL AND DRUG CONSUMPTION IN A SAMPLE OFBRITISH MEDICAL-STUDENTS

Personality characteristics and lifestyle variables were assessed in t wo cohorts of second-year medical students at the University of Newcas tle upon Tyne, UK as part of a psychopharmacology 'teach-in' in 1993 a nd 1994. The pooled sample included 186 students: 77 men, 109 women, m ean age 20.4 +/- 1.8 years. Measures included the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and a questionna ire concerning consumption of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other ill icit drugs, and physical exercise. The results were compared, where po ssible, with a similar survey in Newcastle upon Tyne medical students in 1983 and 1984. Personality variables, prevalence of cigarette smoki ng, levels of caffeine consumption and participation in sports had not changed significantly over the decade. There appeared to be a modest overall increase in alcohol consumption and in the 1993 and 1994 cohor ts of students, 25.5% of those who drank alcohol exceeded recommended low risk levels (comparable data not available for 1983 and 1984). Rep orted use of cannabis and other illicit drugs had more than doubled, a nd in the present survey 49.2% of students recorded using cannabis and 22% had tried other illict drugs. Corresponding figures for 1983 and 1984 were 20.9% for cannabis and 3.3% for other illicit drugs. Anxiety levels were not measured in 1983 and 1984 but in the present survey 3 9.3% of the students had anxiety ratings within the clinically signifi cant range. The high levels of alcohol consumption and illicit drug us e, and the high anxiety ratings, in this sample of medical students ar e a cause for concern. The findings suggest a need for a larger study across different universities and faculties so that appropriate arrang ements for student education and health care can be made.