Screening for Common Mental Disorders Using the SRQ-20 in Medical Students from Porto Velho-RO, Brazil

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of common mental disorders among medical students at the Federal University of Rondônia Foundation.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Federal University of Rondônia Foundation (UNIR), in October 2019.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2019, using a questionnaire adapted with the Self-Report Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20). Sample: 116 students, 56 females and 60 males, from different periods completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of positive results in the SRQ-20 and the variance of positive responses were verified.

Results: The prevalence of positive results for the SRQ-20 was estimated at 69.8% (95% CI 61.0-78.6; 81 cases). No difference was found in the proportions of positive results for the variables analyzed (p >.05). There was no significant association between the calculated prevalence ratios and the factors analyzed (p >.05). The symptoms related to the reduction in vital energy showed the highest average amount of positive responses (76 [± 10.4]; p <.01).

Conclusion: The prevalence of positive results for the SRQ-20 observed in our study was much higher than the average reported for Brazilian medical students. The number of students who said they thought about suicide was also high. We understand that these findings reinforce the need for the development and implementation of medical students' mental health care programs to identify, monitor, and, if possible, adequately treat these cases.