Prevalência e fatores associados à depressão e ansiedade entre estudantes universitários da área da saúde

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Despite the high levels of mental pathologies, specifically depression and anxiety, it is perceivedthat there is a difficulty among health professionals in dealing with these illnesses, both on patients and on themselves. OBJECTIVE: Estimatethe prevalence and the associated factors to depression and anxiety in university students on the health field. METHODS: Transversal study with first year students on health majors (biomedicine, nursery, physiotherapy, medicine and odontology) of a University Center in Ceará. Three questionaires were applied, the first involving socioeconomicaspects, the Inventoryof Depression Beck–BDI (Brazilian adaptation and standardization) and the Inventory of Anxiety Beck–BAI (Brazilian adaptation and standardization). Data were typed with the Epi-info program 3.5.1 version and analyzed in Stata 11.2. RESULTS: 579 students took part in the research, being the majority (36.9%) from the odontology school and the minority (7.5%) from the nursery school. Most of students were women (71.6%), were around 19 years-old (18 to 59), 92% being single. Most of them (74.1%) declared having good health, 96.8% did not smoke and 53.4% drank alcohol. Unhealthy food was mentioned by 76.3% of students, insatisfaction with the amount of sleep was an issue for 87.6% and insomnia was a reality for 48.7% of them. Depression was verified in 28.6%of students, being more prevalent in the physiotherapy school (35.7%). Considering the level of intensity, the highest prevalence of weak depression was found in the nursery school (83.3%), moderated in physiotherapy (30.0%) and strong in biomedicine (5.9%). In relation to anxiety, 36,1% were so considered, with the highest prevalence for the physiotherapy course (52.4%) and also considering the Strong level (15.9%). On the weak level, there was a higher prevalence on the nursery (76.9%) and in the moderated in odontology (31.1%). Depression presented association statisticaly significant with difficulty in relationships, problems with sleep and when the major had not been the student’s first choice (p<0,05). In relation to anxiety, therewas significative association with the varieties sex, relationship difficulties, insomnia, lack of physical activity, preocupation with the future and the fact of doing or having done psychological or psychiatrical treatment. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anxiety and depression with students from the health field were significantly superior to those of the population in general, physiotherapy having presented the higher result among researched majors. The situation points to the urgent necessity of more attention and care with these future professionals, so they can be technically and emotionally better prepared and healthier to deal with human health.