Assessment of depression and suicidal behaviour among medical students in Portugal

OBJECTIVES: To examine depression and suicidal behaviour and associated factors in a sample of medical students in Portugal. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study design of 456 native Portuguese medical students from the 4(th) and 5(th) year at the University of Lisbon. Participants answered a self-report survey including questions on demographic and clinical variables. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-square test, with a Monte Carlo simulation when appropriate. RESULTS: Depression among medical students was 6.1% (n=28) and suicidal behaviour 3.9% (n=18). Higher depression scores were noted in female medical students (χ(2)=4.870,df=2,p=0.027), students who lived alone (χ(2)=8.491,df=3,p=0.037), those with poor physical health (χ(2)=48.269,df=2,p<0.001), with poor economic status (χ(2)=8.579,df=2,p=0.014), students with a psychiatric diagnosis (χ(2)=44.846,df=1,p=0.009), students with a family history of psychiatric disorders (χ(2)=5.284,df=1,p=0.022) and students with high levels of anxiety (χ(2)=104.8, df=3, p<0.001). Depression scores were also higher in students with suicidal ideation (χ(2)=85.0,df=1,p<0.001), suicidal plan (χ(2)=47.9,df=1,p<0.001) and suicidal attempt (χ(2)=19.2,df=1,p<0.001). Suicidal behaviour was higher in medical students who lived alone (χ(2)=16.936,df=3,p=0.001), who had poor physical health (χ(2)=18,929,df=2,p=0.001), poor economic status (χ(2)=9.181,df=2,p=0.01), who are/were in psychopharmacology treatment (χ(2)=30.108,df =1,p<0.001), and who had high alcohol use (χ(2)=7.547,df=2,p=0.023), severe depression (χ(2)=88.875,df=3,p<0.001) and high anxiety levels (χ(2)=50.343,df=3,p<0.001). The results also revealed that there were no differences between students in the 4(th) and 5(th) years of medical school regarding rate of depression and suicidal behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Since depression and suicidal behaviour are mental health problems affecting a significant proportion of medical students, medical schools should implement programs that promote mental health wellness, physical health and economic status between other factors.