The association of BMI and blood pressure measurements with depressive and quality of life scores in university students

Abstract

Depression is a very common and serious mental illness. Studies have shown that depression has a significant impact on both social and economic aspects of sufferers worldwide as well as in South Africa. Research has shown that university students in South Africa have a higher prevalence than the general South African population. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most common and incapacitating form of depression. MDD is characterized as at least two weeks of a low mood that is apparentafter most situations. There are several contributing factors to depression as well as comorbidities which may lead to depression. When a patient suffers from depression along with another illness, it is described as the comorbidity of depression.