Dados do Trabalho

Título

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH BURDEN AMONG BRAZILIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introdução

The SARS-Cov2 pandemic and quarantine restrictions have brought psychological distress to all populations. Among the general population, medical students have higher rates of depression and other mental health problems and the pandemic has impacted on their training with the disruption in educational activities.

Objetivo

We aim to evaluate psychological distress and mental health disorders among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic, and assess the factors with the highest influence on students related psychological effects.

Método

The authors sent a cross-sectional survey via email to medical student, with questionnaires regarding social and demographic status, a special assessment of the COVID-19 related distress and mental health scales that included GAD-7 for anxiety, IES-R for psychological distress, ETIS-SF for childhood trauma, and PHQ-9 for depression assessments.

Resultados

Of the 720 enrolled undergraduate students, 229 (31.8%) have answered the online questionnaire. Of these, 89 (38.9%) met criteria for depression; 91 (40.3%) met criteria for anxiety; and 34 (14.8%) met criteria for a probable psychological distress in response to COVID-19 outbreak. Results showed a positive significant relationship between psychological distress and females, sedentarism, White or Asian ethnicity, with and a high level of childhood trauma events. Neither family income, age nor body-mass index were associated to having psychological distress. Afro-descendent students were less likely to have a psychological distress than other ethnic groups.

Conclusão

Analysis demonstrated a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic, mainly among women and patients with history of high level of childhood trauma events, reinforcing the need to prevention, surveillance and care of these population.

Palavras-chave

COVID-19; medical students; psychological distress.