The knowledge of medicine students and medical personnel on the depressive syndrome

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the knowledge about major depression among 4th year Medical students, interns, family medicine residents and family medicine physicians. Method: In a cross-sectinal comparative observation study, all candidate subjects fullfilling the selection criteria, and working at the Family Medicine Unit of the Psychiatric Hospital # 10 "Dr. Guillermo Davila", and at The Regional General Hospital #98, both from the Mexican institute for Social Security, in Mexico City, were selected. The items of the instrument used were selected from two basic self-evaluation texts on psychiatry. Results: The final groups were: 40 fourth year medical students, 33 medical interns, 30 family medicine residents and 30 family medicine physicians. Medical students rated significantly higher than the rest of the groups in the total number of correct answers and in the total ratings ranging from 1 to 100. Conclusion: This work suggest the need of providing continous education in major depression to interns. residents and family medicine physicians.