title: Evaluation of the level of depression among medical students from Poland, Portugal and Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is a serious illness affecting health, family and professional life of many people of all sectors of society. It also concerns students, regardless of their geographical location. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a proper tool to brief check of the level of depression because it has high correlation with depression. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the level of depression among medical students from Poland, Portugal and Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students from different countries were asked to fill in an electronic form containing the BDI. The form was created separately for each country, using official translation of the BDI, approved by the competent psychiatric association. Google Drive software was used for the electronic form, and Stat soft Statistica v10 software for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in terms of average score of the BDI and of the proportion of the scores more than 10 points of medical and technology students among kinds of studies and countries. The average score of the BDI of medical students: Poland: 13.76±9.99 points; Germany: 8.49±7.64 points; Portugal: 7.37±7.67 points. The average score of the BDI of technology students: Poland: 12.42±9.66 points; Germany: 10.51±8.49 points; Portugal: 9.25±8.97 points. The proportion of the scores more than 10 points of medical students: Poland 56.32% (285/506) Germany 34.92% (154/441) Portugal 26.03% (82/315). The proportion of the scores more than 10 points of technology students: Poland 55.01% (368/669) Germany 43.82% (156/356) Portugal 37.57% (136/362).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highest depression score among medical and technology students according the BDI was found in Poland. A proper monitoring of depression is required, as well as rapid and appropriate help for those who suffer from it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 7 of Silesian Medical University, Ziołowa 45-47, Katowice, Poland, sewerynmariusz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seweryn
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tyrała
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolarczyk-Haczyk
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonk
authors.forename: Weronika
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bulska
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krysta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011044:Poland; D011174:Portugal; D011594:Psychometrics; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult