[Prevalence of risk for mental disorders among undergraduate medical students at the Medical School of the Catholic University of Chile].
BACKGROUND
Stress caused by the high physical, intellectual and emotional demands imposed to medical students, renders them specially susceptible to the development of mental disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of risk for mental disorders among undergraduate students at the Medical School of the Catholic University of Chile.


METHODS
The Twelve Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12) was voluntarily answered by medical students from the first to the fifth year.


RESULTS
Sixty eight percent of the total population (305 students) answered the questionnaire. Forty one percent of students were at risk, defined as scoring five or more points in the GHQ 12. The average score was 3.9 +/- 2.2. First year students had a higher score than fourth year students (4.6 +/- 2.2 and 3.4 +/- 2.1 points respectively, p < 0.05). No gender differences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are similar to those of other publications concerning psychiatric risk among medical students.
Benítez
C
C
Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital Clínico Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Marcoleta 387, 2o piso, Santiago.
Quintero
J
J
Torres
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*