title: Voice Handicap Index associated with common mental disorders in elementary school teachers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the relationship between common mental disorders (CMDs) and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) in elementary school teachers from municipal schools. The VHI mean scores in the group of teachers with symptoms of mental disorder were significantly higher than those in the group of teachers with no symptoms in the total scores of three subscales: disability (functional domain), handicap (emotional domain), and impairment (organic domain).
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted in the public schools of urban and rural areas of the city of Pelotas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 575 teachers participated. Vocal handicap was measured using VHI, producing a total score and three subscales, including emotional, functional, and organic domains. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire, 20 items scale was used to measure mental disorder symptoms. A log transformation was used, followed by linear regression, to evaluate the relationship between the independent variables and the outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teachers with CMD symptoms and who took a sick leave from teaching because of voice problems obtained the lowest scores in VHI (P < 0.050). Emotional, functional, and organic voice handicap scores were significantly higher in teachers with CMD symptoms (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A close association between voice problems and mental disorders was identified based on the statistically significant association between high levels of voice handicap and the mental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. luy.mrocha@gmail.com
authors.forename: Luise Marques
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: da Rocha
authors.forename: Luciano Dias
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: de Mattos Souza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Mental disorders; Teachers; Voice Handicap Index