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Abstract: Background: Medical students experience a lot of stress what may contribute to symptoms of depression. In this study we set out to look at the environmental factors which may be contributing in one medical school in Brazil. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms using Beck''s Depression Inventory in 465 and 267 medical students in 2001 and 2006 respectively. We explored possible social and environmental causes using qualitative data. Results: Nearly 15% scored above the cut off for depression in both the samples. Males in the pre-clinical stage in 2006 showed an increase in depressive symptoms than males in the same cycle in 2001 (aOR=7.36 [95% CI=0.85–63.5] p =0.07). Qualitative data confirmed that factors such as ragging and low social involvement were correlated with depressive symptoms in pre-clinical stage males. Limitations: The sample size was small both for quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study. Conclusions: It appears that ragging plays an important role in the genesis of depressive symptoms in medical students. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase of social stressors and mental health issues in the general population as well as among mentally ill patients. A COVID-19- related "infodemic", including too much information in digital and physical environments, has been recognized globally.Aim: This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 infodemic (exposure to news related to COVID-19) in terms of depressive symptoms in the Paraguayan general population.Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. An online survey, designed in Google Forms, has been launched nationwide through the most popular social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and messaging applications (WhatsApp, Telegram) in April (1st-30th) 2021. The Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) was employed for detecting depressive symptoms.Results: The survey included 1102 responders aged 35.4 ± 12.9 years old, 74.9% were women. MHI-5 mean score was 44.07 ± 14.16 in the general population with 34.4% (n = 379) of responders suffering from severe symptoms of depression (>52, as cut-off point). 53.5% of sample reported to have been exposed between 1 and 3 h to COVID-19 news, daily. An OR 1.933 (95% CI 1.48 - 2.52) was found between the exposure to news and depressive symptoms.Conclusions: This study suggests that people exposed to a higher number of hours of COVID-19 news were 93.3% more likely to develop depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Rates of depression among medical students have been shown to be high and related to year of study and other factors. We report on cluster of symptoms related to depression and their association with other difficulties in specific domains. Methods: 481 (Response rate=79.8%) medical students completed a questionnaire about areas of difficulty in the medical school (studies, leisure, colleagues, professors, and patients), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We studied correlation among areas of difficulty and clusters of BDI along with year in the course. Results: Two areas which contributed most difficulty were studies and leisure. The significant associations for studies were seen between somatic cluster of depressive symptoms and the level of the course. Difficulties associated with leisure activities and with colleagues were correlated with the affective cluster of symptoms of depression. Activities related to clinical matters especially working with patients in the internship year were associated with somatic clusters. The different associations confirmed that rather than relying on scores emphasis should be placed on clusters of symptoms. Limitations: Sample from a single medical school. Conclusions: Although the clusters are associated with specific difficulties, it is important that educators and health professionals are aware of streesors the medical students face. The correlations if confirmed in future studies with qualitative factors could guide the development of more specific therapeutic or curriculum interventions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Medical students experience a lot of stress what may contribute to symptoms of depression. In this study we set out to look at the environmental factors which may be contributing in one medical school in Brazil.Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms using Beck's Depression Inventory in 465 and 267 medical students in 2001 and 2006 respectively. We explored possible social and environmental causes using qualitative data.Results: Nearly 15% scored above the cut off for depression in both the samples. Males in the pre-clinical stage in 2006 showed an increase in depressive symptoms than males in the same cycle in 2001 (aOR=7.36 [95% CI=0.85-63.5] p=0.07). Qualitative data confirmed that factors such as ragging and low social involvement were correlated with depressive symptoms in pre-clinical stage males.Limitations: The sample size was small both for quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study.Conclusions: It appears that ragging plays an important role in the genesis of depressive symptoms in medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]