The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the knowledge about major
depression among 4th year Medical students, interns, family medicine reside
nts and family medicine physicians.
Method: In a cross-sectinal comparative observation study, all candidate su
bjects fullfilling the selection criteria, and working at the Family Medici
ne 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 w
ere 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. M
edical students rated significantly higher than the rest of the groups in t
he 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.