RESEARCH PAPER Anxiety and depression levels of inpatients in the city centre of Kirs ¸ehir in Turkey Ayla Ünsal PhD Assistant Professor, Ahi Evran University School of Health, Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sag ˘lık Yüksekokulu, Kırs ¸ehir, Turkey Cansu Ünaldi MA Registered Nurse, Ahi Evran University School of Health, Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sag ˘lık Yüksekokulu, Kırs ¸ehir, Turkey Çig ˘dem Baytemir MA Registered Nurse, Ahi Evran University School of Health, Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sag ˘lık Yüksekokulu, Kırs ¸ehir, Turkey Accepted for publication April 2011 Ünsal A, Ünaldi C, Baytemir Ç. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2011; 17: 411–418 Anxiety and depression levels of inpatients in the city centre of Kirs ¸ehir in Turkey The aim of this study was to determine the anxiety and depression levels of inpatients. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kırs ¸ehir in the middle part of Turkey with a sample of 433 inpatients. As the data-gathering tools, a questionnaire form and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used. Statistical analyses were performed using Kruskal–Wallis Variance analysis and Mann–Whitney U-test. The mean HADS-depression scores of patients were compared according to the clinics they were in, and the difference was found to be significant for HADS-depression (P < 0.01) scores. The mean HADS-anxiety score of participants was 9.07, and the mean HADS-depression scores was 8.88. Among the participants in this study, 44.3% had an anxiety disorder (HADS-anxiety score of  10) whereas the 73.7% showed depression (HADS-depression score of  7). Results indicate that support, counselling, and routine screening for anxiety and depression should be provided to inpatients. Key words: anxiety, depression, inpatients, nursing. INTRODUCTION Anxiety and depression are common among medical and surgical inpatients. It is therefore important for health- care professionals involved in inpatient cure and care programmes to consider screening patients for elevated levels of anxiety and depression and to provide appro- priate counselling or treatment where necessary. 1,2 Nurses spend more time with hospitalized patients than do the members of any other discipline, and therefore have a significant impact upon patients’ anxiety and depression status during their hospital experience. During hospitalization, patients undergo a variety of stressful experiences. In addition to the stress of physical illness, hospitalized patients often lose work, indepen- dence, body image and social identity. Patients might also face invasive testing and the possibility of an uncer- tain diagnosis, an incurable disease or even death. 3 Bio- medical factors such as medical condition, behaviour of ward staff and unfriendly ward conditions could also influence their anxiety and depression level during their hospital stay. Correspondence: Ayla Ünsal, Ahi Evran University School of Health, Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sag ˘lık Yüksekokulu 40100 Kırs ¸ehir, Türkiye. Email: ay_unsal@hotmail.com; aunsal@ahievran.edu.tr International Journal of Nursing Practice 2011; 17: 411–418 doi:10.1111/j.1440-172X.2011.01949.x © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd