OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine and compare the prevalence of depression and the suicide risk among the students from Minas Gerais Medical Science College (FCMMG), a private institution that offers medicine, physical therapy and occupational therapy courses. METHODS: 342 students were selected according to a random sample by quota. The psychiatric diagnosis was taken by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). The rates of the prevalence of depression and suicide risk were esteemed according to the course, gender and length in the course. For comparison, it was used the qui-square test (chi2) or the exact Fisher’s test, with a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The rates of the prevalence of depression obtained among the students were medicine, 8.9%; physical therapy, 6.7%; occupational therapy, 28.2% (p = 0.002). The rates of prevalence of suicide risk among students were medicine, 7.5%; physical therapy, 7.8%; occupational therapy, 25.6% (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression and the suicide risk among the students of occupational therapy was significantly more elevated if compared to the rates obtained among the students of medicine and physical therapy.
depression; university students
