scholarly journals Presence of depressive symptoms in medical students in a Mexican public university

Salud Mental ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Antonio Tadeo-Álvarez ◽  
Claudia Daniela Munguía-Ortíz ◽  
Valeria Benítez-López ◽  
Ana María Valles-Medina ◽  
Guadalupe Delgadillo-Ramos ◽  
...  

Introduction. During their professional training, medical students are subject to diverse stress-causing factors such as academic demands and a highly competitive environment which may threaten their mental health. Objective. Identify the presence of depressive symptoms in medical students in a public university in Mexico. Method. Descriptive cross-sectional study of a random sample of 203 medical students at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California from February to April 2018. The PHQ - 9 scale was used, and a cut-off score of ≥ 10 was employed as positive for depressive symptoms. Basic descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze sociodemographic variables such as gender, academic advancement, stage of training (basic science vs. clinical), and the prevalence of the five different categories of the scale. Results. Of the medical students surveyed, 20.2% were found positive for depressive symptoms and 7.9% (16) had severe or moderately severe symptoms. Female gender increased the risk of presenting symptoms (OR = 3.5, 95% CI [1.6, 7.6]). Discussion. Despite the fact that the prevalence of depressive symptoms encountered was similar to that reported worldwide, it is troubling that one fifth of the surveyed students presented depressive symptoms. These results may justify implementation of preventive strategies by academic authorities to improve student mental health, and maybe even for early detection of risk of major depressive disorder.

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Lúcia Damásio Moutinho ◽  
◽  
Natalia de Castro Pecci Maddalena ◽  
Ronald Kleinsorge Roland ◽  
Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti ◽  
...  

Summary Objective: To compare the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress in medical students from all semesters of a Brazilian medical school and assess their respective associated factors. Method: A cross-sectional study of students from the twelve semesters of a Brazilian medical school was carried out. Students filled out a questionnaire including sociodemographics, religiosity (DUREL - Duke Religion Index), and mental health (DASS-21 - Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). The students were compared for mental health variables (Chi-squared/ANOVA). Linear regression models were employed to assess factors associated with DASS-21 scores. Results: 761 (75.4%) students answered the questionnaire; 34.6% reported depressive symptomatology, 37.2% showed anxiety symptoms, and 47.1% stress symptoms. Significant differences were found for: anxiety - ANOVA: [F = 2.536, p=0.004] between first and tenth (p=0.048) and first and eleventh (p=0.025) semesters; depression - ANOVA: [F = 2.410, p=0.006] between first and second semesters (p=0.045); and stress - ANOVA: [F = 2.968, p=0.001] between seventh and twelfth (p=0.044), tenth and twelfth (p=0.011), and eleventh and twelfth (p=0.001) semesters. The following factors were associated with (a) stress: female gender, anxiety, and depression; (b) depression: female gender, intrinsic religiosity, anxiety, and stress; and (c) anxiety: course semester, depression, and stress. Conclusion: Our findings revealed high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in medical students, with marked differences among course semesters. Gender and religiosity appeared to influence the mental health of the medical students.


2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosana Denobile Serra ◽  
Sandra Lopes Mattos e Dinato ◽  
Marcos Montani Caseiro

ABSTRACT Objective Ascertain the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in medical students, considering data in the literature that indicate higher vulnerability to emotional disorders in this population. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample of 657 (98%) students. The instruments used were: questionnaire of socioeconomic-demographic characteristics, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results Predominance of the female gender (61%), aged between 17 and 30 years (98%), Catholic religion (64.2%) from the city of São Paulo (40.7%) and other cities in the state (35.7%); 30% presented depressive symptoms and 21% anxiety symptoms. Female students had higher scores both for depression (34.8%) and for anxiety (26.8%). As regards the course year, the highest rates were found in the 5th year (40.7%) for depression and in the 2nd year for anxiety (28.8%). Conclusion The data obtained in this study (30%) agreed with the literature regarding the prevalence of depressive symptoms in medical students, but this index was higher compared to the population in general (15.1% to 16.8%), and related to people in São Paulo city (18.5%). Concerning anxiety the rates found were slightly lower than those in specific literature but higher than those in literature for the population in general (8% to 18%) and in city São Paulo (16.8%). These indices indicate that the school of medicine may play a role as a predisposing and/or triggering factor in some students. The results suggest that more attention should be directed to 5th year students, who are beginning the internship period.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. McKune ◽  
Daniel Acosta ◽  
Nick Diaz ◽  
Kaitlin Brittain ◽  
Diana Joyce- Beaulieu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Given the emerging literature regarding the impacts of lockdown measures on mental health, this study aims to describe the psychosocial health of school-aged children and adolescents during the COVID-19 Safer-at-Home School mandates. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2020 (n = 280) among K-12 students at a research school in North Central Florida. Bivariate analysis and logistic and multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine socio-demographic and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) predictors of indicators of anxiety-related, depressive, and obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)-related symptoms. Outcomes (anxiety, OCD, and depressive related symptoms) were measured by indices generated based on reported symptoms associated with each psychosocial outcome. Results Loss of household income was associated with increased risk for all three index-based outcomes: depressive symptoms [aOR = 3.130, 95% CI = (1.41–6.97)], anxiety-related symptoms [aOR = 2.531, 95%CI = (1.154–5.551)], and OCD-related symptoms [aOR = 2.90, 95%CI = (1.32–6.36)]. Being female was associated with being at higher risk for depressive symptoms [aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = (1.02–2.93)], anxiety-related symptoms [aOR = 1.75, 95% CI = (1.04–2.97)], and OCD-related symptoms [aOR = 1.764, 95%CI = (1.027–3.028)]. Parental practices protective against COVID-19 were associated with children being at higher risk of depressive symptoms [aOR = 1.55, 95% CI = (1.04–2.31)]. Lower school level was associated with children being at higher risk of anxiety-related and OCD-related symptoms. Conclusions As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, schools should prioritize mental health interventions that target younger, female students, and children of families with income loss. Limiting the spread of COVID-19 through school closure may exacerbate negative psychosocial health outcomes in children, thus school administrators should move quickly to target those at greatest risk.


Hypertension ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian S Costa ◽  
Marina C Marins ◽  
Jocasta C Ansel ◽  
Carolina P Tavares ◽  
Fernanda T Queiroz ◽  
...  

Introduction: Medical students, susceptible to sleep disorders, have irregular sleep-awake cycle, with repercussions on the quality of life and reduced academic performance, often with greater incidence of psychiatric disorders, estimated at 15% to 25% during your academic training. Objective: To evaluate the sleep habits in students of medical school in a private college of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Method: This subset study is a part of an observational study with cross-sectional delineation, with data collected through the application of an anonymous questionnaire, where they were asked about the number (and modification) of hours they sleep daily, in addition to reports of “stress and anxiety”. These data collected formed the basis of an instrument for assessing the quality of life on the medical students of this College. Results: We analyzed data from 481 students: 82 (17%) at the first year, 118 (24.5%) at the second year, 99 (20.6%) at the third, 64 (13.3%) and 118 (24.5%) within the fifth and sixth years. The average age was 21.7 years (16-42) and 306 (63.6%) of female gender. As for the hours of sleep, 445 students (92.5%) report 5 to 8 hours of sleep, and 216 (44.9%) a minimum of 6 hours. In the sleep of the weekends, 394 (81.9%) reported change in the number of hours and, 313 (65.1%) referred to a reduction after the entrance into college. It was reported "some level of stress and anxiety,“ not related to the least number of hours sleepping (0.07). Comparing the data obtained among the 199 students of the first and second years (62.8% female-group A) to 117 at fifth and sixth years (70.9% female-group B), we observed similarity in relation to (1) number of 5 to 8 hours sleepping (A 92.9% x 90.5% B), (2) change the hours of sleepping on the weekends (A 81.9% x 79.5% B), and (3) reduction of sleepping hours after the entrance into College (A 81.9% x 78.6% B). With regard to the report of "stress and anxiety”, we observed statistically significant difference between the groups (A 100% x 88% B, p < 0.03). Conclusion: The change in lifestyle imposed on joining a new school learning model, generates anxiety and loss of sleep hours among students. The development of resilience and adaptation to change, both individual and institutional, may have been responsible to varying degrees of stress.


2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosely Almeida Souza ◽  
Gislaine Desani da Costa ◽  
Cintia Hitomi Yamashita ◽  
Fernanda Amendola ◽  
Jaqueline Correa Gaspar ◽  
...  

Objective: To classify families of elderly with depressive symptoms regarding their functioning and to ascertain the presence of an association between these symptoms, family functioning and the characteristics of the elderly. Method: This was an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study performed with 33 teams of the Family Health Strategy in Dourados, MS. The sample consisted of 374 elderly divided into two groups (with and without depressive symptoms). The instruments for data collection were a sociodemographic instrument, the GeriatricDepression Scale (15 items) and the Family Apgar. Results: An association was observed between depressive symptoms and family dysfunction, female gender, four or more people living together, and physical inactivity. Conclusion: The functional family may represent effective support for the elderly with depressive symptoms, because it offers a comfortable environment that ensures the well-being of its members. The dysfunctional family can barely provide necessary care for the elderly, which can exacerbate depressive symptoms.



2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 832-840
Author(s):  
Katti Sathaporn ◽  
Jarurin Pitanupong

Objective: To determine the level of and factors associated with empathy among medical students.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed all first- to sixth-year medical students at the Facultyof Medicines, Prince of Songkla University, at the end of the 2020 academic year. The questionnaires consisted of:1) The personal and demographic information questionnaire, 2) The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, and 3) ThaiMental Health Indicator-15. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and factors associated with empathylevel were assessed via chi-square and logistic regression analyses.Results: There were 1010 participants with response rate of 94%. Most of them were female (59%). More than half(54.9%) reported a high level of empathy. There was a statistically significant difference in empathy levels betweenpre-clinical and clinical medical students; in regards to empathy subgroups (P-value < 0.001). The assessment ofemotional states in others by demonstrating appropriate sensitivity behavior, altruism, and empathic respondingscores among the pre-clinical group were higher than those of the clinical group. Multivariate analysis indicatedthat female gender, pre-clinical training level, and minor specialty preference were factors associated with empathylevel. The protective factor that significantly improved the level of empathy was having fair to good mental health.Conclusion: More than half of the surveyed medical students reported a high level of empathy. The protective factorthat improved the level of empathy was good mental health. However, future qualitative methods, longitudinalsurveillance, or long-term follow-up designs are required to ensure the trustworthiness of these findings.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S303-S304
Author(s):  
Syed Muhammad Jawad Zaidi ◽  
Muhammad Hamza ◽  
Raja Adnan Ahmed ◽  
Mishal Fatima ◽  
Hassan Nadeem ◽  
...  

AimsThe increasing burden of mental disorders coupled with the social stigmatization in Pakistan is an immense barrier in combating the emerging mental health crisis. The low number of qualified psychiatrists and poor intake in post-graduate psychiatry training programs in the region further complicates the problem. Thus, our study aims to assess the attitudes of Pakistani medical students towards psychiatry. Furthermore, we also aim to evaluate how experience and different levels of exposure to psychiatry among students affect their attitudes towards psychiatry as a career choice.MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey made on Google Forms. A total of 831 medical students studying across various private and public medical institutions of Pakistan responded to the survey. The questionnaire comprised of demographical details (gender, age, institution, and academic year) exposure to psychiatry, duration of psychiatry rotation, and personal experience with mental illness. The attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry were evaluated using the English version of the 30-item Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP-30) scale. Chi-square test and multiple regression with backward method were used to analyze the data.ResultThe Cronbach's alpha value of the ATP-30 scale was 0.830. The participants in our study had a mean score of 107.6 ± 12 on ATP-30. Overall, most participants had a positive attitude towards psychiatry. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant model pertaining to predictors of attitude toward psychiatry (F (df) = 11.28 (830), P < 0.001). However, the predictors included in the model accounted for only 5.8% of the variation in ATP-30 scores. According to it, those students had a more positive attitude toward psychiatry who identified as female, older and having any sort of exposure toward psychiatric specialty, direct involvement in psychiatric patient care, and reporting personal experience of mental illnesses.ConclusionOur study showed that medical students had a positive attitude towards psychiatry but female medical students, students with previous exposure to psychiatry, and students with longer psychiatry rotations tend to view psychiatry more positively. The generally positive trend towards psychiatry in Pakistan indicates the need to sustain improvements through proactive measures. We recommend longer placements for medical students in mental health settings for at least 4 weeks or longer. Medical schools should also promote research, discussions, and seminars on different psychiatric illnesses in order to enhance awareness among the students.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77
Author(s):  
THAÍS CAMPELO BEDÊ VALE ◽  
LÍVIA RODRIGUES DE ARAÚJO ◽  
VITÓRIA NUNES MEDEIROS ◽  
JOSÉ HÍCARO HELLANO GONÇALVES LIMA PAIVA ◽  
TATIANA PASCHOALETTE RODRIGUES BACHUR ◽  
...  

Depression is a common mental condition worldwide and a major cause of debility, with the potential to impair the quality of life of affected people. Medical students are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders, with depression, anxiety, and burnout being the most common ones. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in medical students and their association with burnout and aspects of life. This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Data collection was performed using four validated scales and a questionnaire in 511 medical students from the first to the fourth year from different universities. Depression was present in 49% of the students. A correlation was found between depression and female gender. Regarding the students' daily sleep time, 54.5% of the students slept only 3 to 6 hours per night. The use of psychoactive substances was reported by 29.9%. Regarding the emotional support offered by universities, about 92.8% of students with depressive symptoms reported not receiving adequate emotional support. As for quality of life, all domains were impaired among students with depression. According to the two-dimensional criterion, 37% of the students have burnout, with correlation between the presence of the syndrome and depressive symptoms. In addition, burnout proved to be an independent risk factor for suicidal ideation and self-mutilation. New methods that can help detect and address factors that trigger stress and depressive symptoms in medical students are needed to reduce the incidence of depression.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshito Nishimura ◽  
Kanako Ochi ◽  
Kazuki Tokumasu ◽  
Mikako Obika ◽  
Hideharu Hagiya ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected medical education. However, little data are available about medical students’ distress during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to provide details on how medical students have been affected by the pandemic. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 717 medical students participated in the web-based survey. The survey included questions about how the participants’ mental status had changed from before to after the Japanese nationwide state of emergency (SOE). RESULTS Out of 717 medical students, 473 (66.0%) participated in the study. In total, 29.8% (141/473) of the students reported concerns about the shift toward online education, mostly because they thought online education would be ineffective compared with in-person learning. The participants’ subjective mental health status significantly worsened after the SOE was lifted (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). Those who had concerns about a shift toward online education had higher odds of having generalized anxiety and being depressed (odds ratio [OR] 1.97, 95% CI 1.19-3.28) as did those who said they would request food aid (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.16-3.44) and mental health care resources (OR 3.56, 95% CI 2.07-6.15). CONCLUSIONS Given our findings, the sudden shift to online education might have overwhelmed medical students. Thus, we recommend that educators inform learners that online learning is not inferior to in-person learning, which could attenuate potential depression and anxiety.


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