Depressive symptoms among Mexican medical students: high prevalence and the effect of a group psychoeducation intervention.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of depression among medical students as compared to the general population. On the other hand, psychoeducational interventions have proven its efficacy on diminishing depressive symptoms. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among medical students in La Salle University and the effect that psychoeducation has on it.

METHODS: Students between the first and the eighth semester voluntarily answered the Beck Depression Inventory test in an anonymous way from 2006 to 2007. After determining the prevalence of depressive symptoms the psychoeducational program was established and prevalence of depressive symptoms was measured for two more years (2008-2009).

RESULTS: A total of 1958 students answered the test during the four years. In the first two years (2006-2007) the 36.29% of the students scored for positive depressive symptoms. The next two years (2008-2009), after the psychoeducation program, the prevalence of depressive symptoms diminishes in a significant manner, only 25.51% of the students have depressive symptoms (p<.0001).

LIMITATIONS: Because the test were answered anonymously, there is no way we can give neither specific attention nor follow-up to the students with depression. Also we can't determine the effect of the mental health group treatment among the medical students.

CONCLUSIONS: Even though the medical students have risks factors for developing depression, we prove that a psychoeducation program can be an effective alternative therapy for decreasing the prevalence of depressive symptoms among medical students.