Medical Student Syndrome and Imposter Syndrome: Are They Real?

Abstract: Medical Student Syndrome and imposter syndrome are rampant in the medical profession, especially among young medical students. Medical Student Syndrome, also known as the third-year syndrome is a hypochondriacal concern in inexperienced medical students regarding the disease they are studying. Usually, it arises as a result of incomplete knowledge about the disease and regular exposure to new information about diseases. Imposter syndrome, on the other hand, refers to the behavioral pattern where medical students doubt their abilities and are constantly afraid of being exposed as a fraud. Imposter syndrome might occur due to unrealistic expectations in this highly competitive medical profession.