Prevalence of pharmacological and non-pharmacological coping mechanisms for anxiety management during the COVID-19 pandemic: investigating the transition to online learning among medical students.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a devastating effect on college students worldwide. Here, the authors aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and its related coping strategies, provide a theoretical basis for understanding self-prescription, and identify the factors contributing to stress and anxiety in medical students during the pandemic.

Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional study among medical students in Saudi Arabia from September to November 2020.

Medical and nonmedical use of psychiatric medications among medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Psychiatric medication use has increased recently among college students. This includes antidepressants, opioids, stimulants, analgesics, sedatives, and anxiolytics, which could be self-administered without medical supervision.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of medical and nonmedical use of psychiatric prescription medications and its correlation with academic performance, demographic data as well as the motives for the nonmedical use.