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Mental health treatment needs for medical students: a national longitudinal study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 September 2008

Mirim Midtgaard ,
Øivind Ekeberg ,
Per Vaglum  and
Reidar Tyssen
Mirim Midtgaard
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Øivind Ekeberg
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway Department of Acute Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, N-0407 Oslo, Norway
Per Vaglum
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Reidar Tyssen*
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
*
*Corresponding author. Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Domus Medica, Sognsvannsveien 9, PO Box 1111, Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway. Tel.: +47 2285 1187; fax: +47 2285 1300. E-mail address: tyssen@medisin.uio.no (R. Tyssen).
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Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to study the occurrence and predictors of medical students' mental health problems that required treatment.

Subjects and 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 3 years, 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).

Discussion

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

Conclusion

A third of the students reported mental health problems during the first 3 years. Intervention should focus on both individual problems and contextual stress.

Keywords

Medical studentsCohort studiesMental disorderStressLife change eventsPersonality
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 23 , Issue 7 , October 2008 , pp. 505 - 511
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2008

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