Sintomatología depresiva y calidad de vida en estudiantes de medicina en alta latitud sur

BACKGROUND There is no evidence for the association of depressive symptoms with the sense of well-being of undergraduate medical students residing in high southern latitudes (HSL). AIM To assess the frequency of depressive symptoms and its relationship with seasonal sensitivity and quality of life in medical students residing in HSL. MATERIAL AND METHODS The Beck anxiety and depressive symptoms inventory, the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire and the quality-of-life questionnaire of the WHO were applied to 102 medical students residing in Magallanes, Chile. RESULTS Fifty-two percent of respondents reported some degree of depressive symptoms. These symptoms were significantly associated with the seasonal pattern score (r = 0.432, p < 0.01). They were also inversely associated with parameters of physical health and psychosocial health (r = -0.567, p < 0.01 and r = -0.708, p < 0.01, respectively). There was also a correlation between depressive and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Depressive symptoms are common in medical students residing in HSL and they are associated with seasonal sensitivity and quality of life measures.