Mental health treatment needs for medical students: a national longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to study the occurrence and predictors of medical students' mental health problems that required treatment.


METHODS
Medical students from all Norwegian universities (N=421) were surveyed in their first term (T1), and 3 (T2) and 6 (T3) years later. The dependent variable was "Mental health problems in need of treatment". Predictor variables included personality traits, medical school stress and negative life events.


RESULTS
The lifetime prevalence of mental health problems was 15% at T1. At T2, of the 31% who reported problems during the first 3years, a majority had not sought help. At T3, 14% reported problems during the preceding year. Adjusted predictors of problems at T2 were previous mental health problems (p<.001), low level of intensity personality trait (extraversion) (p<.01), reality weakness personality trait (p<.01), perceived medical school stress (p<.05) and negative life events (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Mental health problems during the first 3years were predicted by previous problems, personality, medical school stress and negative life events.


CONCLUSIONS
A third of the students reported mental health problems during the first 3years. Intervention should focus on both individual problems and contextual stress.
Midtgaard
Mirim
M
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway.
Ekeberg
Øivind
Ø
Vaglum
Per
P
Tyssen
Reidar
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors