TITLE:
COVID-19 Downgraded Already Impaired Mental Health of Medical Undergraduates during the Pandemic Years
AUTHORS:
Rodrigo Corrêa Falcão Rodrigues Alves, Rodolffo da Silva Fossa, Vinicius de Calasans Timaco, José Mariano Soares de Moraes, Emilio Magalhães Martins Will, Rinaldo Henrique Aguilar da Silva, Luiz Antonio Vane, Joaquim Edson Vieira, Matheus Fachini Vane
KEYWORDS:
Mental Health, COVID-19, Students, Medical, Surveys and Questionnaires
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.11 No.5,
May
19,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Measures to contain the COVID-19 transmission reached teaching routines of universities worldwide with possible mental health consequences for anxiety. This study assessed prevalence and risk factors for stress, depression, and anxiety (SDA) in medical students during quarantine by COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of medical students by means of the DASS-21 questionnaire. Risk factors for SDA were assessed based on epidemiologic questions related to COVID-19. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated for each predictor, as well as sensitivity and specificity. Results: This survey reached 1009 responses. A prevalence of 77.5% for some SDA disorder was found, 63% being severe. Previous diagnosis of psychiatric disorder was a factor of risk for anxiety (OR 2.78 CI95% 1.44 - 14.25, p = 0.044), as well as for depression (OR 3.37 CI95% 1.98 - 6.02, p Conclusion: Psychiatric conditions as well as chronic illnesses were risk factors for high prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical students.