Introduction

Undergraduate medical students (MIPS) are prone to suffering depression disorders. These can translate into apathy, distraction, isolation, aggression and cynicism, as well as poor patient care.

Objective

To determine the frequency of depression traits in undergraduate medical students at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Mexicali, Baja California.

Method

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out at the Hospital General Zone 30 at the IMSS, Mexicali, Baja California, the work environment of the MIPS of the institution. Inclusion criteria: MIPS affiliated with the Hospital General Zone 30, who agreed to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria: undergoing psychiatric treatment, on holiday, incapacitated or absent on the day the assessment scale was applied. We considered the ethical aspects, by means of an informed consent form. Instrument of measurement: Zung self-rating depression scale. Statistical analysis: descriptive measures of central tendency and dispersion. Statistical program: SPSS 20.

Results

70 MIPS were studied, 38 of which were female (54.3%); the average age was 24.3 ± 1.9, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 36 years (95% CI, 23.83 to 24.77). Depression traits occurred most commonly in females (14 [20%]) and during the Gynaecology-Obstetrics rotation (7 [10%]). The MIPS universities participating were: Autónoma de Baja California 58 (82.9%), Xochicalco (CEUX) 11 (15.71%) and Autónoma de Sinaloa (UAS) 1 (1.42%). Minimal depression occurred in 13 (18.6%), moderate depression in 7 (10%) and severe depression in 0. The frequency of depression traits was 20 (28.6%).

Conclusions

The frequency of depression traits in the MIPS was 20 (28.6%), predominantly minimal depression.