FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN STUDENTS OF MEDICINE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTANT DWELLING OF THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Introduction: Medical students have a high rate of depressive symptoms (DS) when compared to the general population. It is hypothesized that this rate is even higher in students residing far from the family nucleus. Aim: To characterize the frequency of DS in medical students at UniFTC University Center, Salvador, Brazil, who live far away from the family environment and from those who live in the family environment, from the first to fourth year of the course. Methods: The Beck Inventory (IDB10) was applied to 305 students of which 297 met the inclusion criteria and they were validated. Demographic data were collected by separate questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of DS was 90.24%, with 40.7% presenting moderate symptoms (121), 86 (28.9%) presenting severe symptoms and 29 (9.76%) presenting no significant symptoms (score 0- 3). About the association between housing and presence of DS symptoms was finding the p=0,51, what means that it doesn’t shown statistic meaning, but it have clinical relevancy. Conclusion: Prevalence of DS in medical students at UniFTC is markedly higher than the rates found in the general medical student population, 90.24% vs 41%. Although, characteristics such as housing were not statistically significant, it has clinical meaning, and it was saw a higher frequency of symptoms was observed among people who don’t live with their relatives.