Mental health disorders among Sudanese medical students amid the 2023 conflict: prevalence, predictors, and implications

Journal article

Background: The ongoing military conflict in Sudan since 2023 has disrupted both medical education and the healthcare system, likely adversely affecting the mental health of medical students. Purpose: This study investigates the prevalence of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and possible predictive factors in Sudanese medical students during the April 2023 military conflict. Cross-sectional: Studies were included among the faces of Sudanese medical students in conflict-affected regions. Participants completed an online questionnaire covering demographics, education, coping strategies, and mental health using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Posttraumatic Stress Checklist (PCL-5). Results: In our large sample of 4185 medical students, very high rates of anxiety (61.98%), depression (65.5%), and PTSD (36.7%) were reported. Medical students without plans for continuation of education exhibited significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to their counterparts (p < 0.001). An increased age is associated with higher levels of anxiety (estimate: 0.14, 95%CI: 0.08 to 0.19), depression (estimate: 0.11, 95%CI: 0.06 to 0.16), and PTSD (estimate: 0.35, 95%CI: 0.16 to 0.55). Males exhibit significantly lower levels of anxiety (estimate: −2.1, 95%CI: −2.4 to −1.8), depression (estimate: −0.59, 95%CI:-0.86 to −0.33), and PTSD (estimate: −6.1, 95%CI:-7.2 to −4.9) compared to females. Perceived below-average financial status before conflict significantly increases anxiety (estimate: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.19 to 1.2), depression (estimate: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.38 to 1.3), and PTSD (estimate: 3.2, 95%CI: 1.3 to 5.0). Experiences of sexual abuse, physical abuse, death of a family member, and financial damage are strongly associated with increased anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Attending public medical school is associated with lower anxiety (estimate: −0.74, 95%CI: −1.0 to −0.45), depression (estimate: −0.76, 95%CI: −1.0 to −0.51), and TSD (estimate: −1.6, 95%CI: −2.6 to −0.54) compared to private school attendance. Conclusion: Our study found high rates of mental health conditions and distress among Sudanese medical students during the ongoing conflict. Associated factors include demographic factors, personal economic stability, coping strategies, and trauma. Urgent interventions are vital to target the factors mentioned above. Prioritising students’ mental well-being is critical for their resilience and to support their contributions to post-conflict nation-building efforts.

Authors: Alfadul, ESA; Alrawa, SS; Tebaig, B; Molodynski, A; Osman, AHM

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Journal: BMC Psychiatry
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 217
• Publication date: 2026-01-31
• Acceptance date: 2026-01-20
• DOI: 10.1186/s12888-026-07843-2
• EISSN: 1471-244X
• ISSN: 1471-244X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Medical students; Conflict; Depression; PTSD; Anxiety; Developing countries