Prevalence and Determinants of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Psychiatric Nurses in Ghana: a Cross Sectional Study

Background: The job demands and stress associated with the nursing profession put nurses on an escalating risk to exhibit psychiatric morbidity such as anxiety and depression. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of depression, anxiety and stress among nurses working in public psychiatric hospitals in Ghana. Methods: : A cross-sectional design was used for this study. Proportionate and simple random sampling method were used to select 311 respondents for the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire which comprised Beck’s Depression Inventory, Beck’s Anxiety Inventory and Perceived Stress Scale. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logistic regression. Results: : The results showed that 92% and 96.5% of mental health nurses experienced minimal depression and low anxiety respectively. In addition, 56.6% and 42.8% experienced low and moderate stress respectively. There was a positive association between educational level and depression whereas, a negative association existed between educational level and anxiety and stress. Also, mental health nurses who work at the OPD and Administration were more likely to experience anxiety and stress. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that, higher level of educational opportunities for mental health nurses leads to decreases anxiety among nurses. Also, the work environment needs to be made conducive to promote the psychological wellbeing of nurses. Additionally, interventions on the management of depression, anxiety and stress by nurses in mental health hospitals need to be instituted, thereby, improving the health of nurses working in mental health hospitals.