All of these participants underwent
formal psychiatric evaluations and met the criteria of clinical depression based on both the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD: scores greater than or equal to 21) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI: scores greater than or equal to 13).
Such fears are common among students — and may be well - founded, because some state medical licensing boards can require
formal psychiatric evaluations of applicants who report being treated for mental illness.