Silvia Ortiz León

Computer program in the treatment for major depression and cognitive impairment in university students

Introduction: A depressed patient presents cognitive impairment that remains in spite of depressions remission. This study intends to evaluate the impact of cognitive training in the treatment of depression, and also of the impairment that depression causes. Method: A program for cognitive training (Alcor) was designed for and applied to a group of patients (n=10) with non-medicated MDD; a group (N=10) with MDD that was treated with the program and with anti-depressants, and to another group (n=11) that was given anti-depressors only. The impact of this intervention was assessed by applying the following instruments: Beck Depression Inventory, WAIS, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Externalized Problems Assessment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults, and Attention Problems Assessment Scale. The program was applied to University students with MDD twice a week, until they had reached adequate levels of execution. Results: The patients of all three groups showed MDD event remission. Those who received cognitive training showed a substantial increase of intellectual performance. The cognitive treatment group increased IQ in 12.9 units and the combined group increase in 13.3 units. There was a slight decrease of 1.9 units within the anti-depressant treatment group. The changes in attention and in externalized problems showed the same trends.

Síntomas depresivos y rendimiento escolar en estudiantes de Medicina

SUMMARY The prevalence of depression among medical students is significantly higher than that from the general population or other undergraduate students and can result in dropping out, in such a way that the growing number of students who have dropped due to their poor performance or their vocational indecision could be related to the presence of this condition. Objective and methodology To identify if the depressive symptoms presented by medical students from first year were associated with poor performance. The study included 774 medical students in their first year (66.4% female, 33.6% male, average age: 18.6 ± 1.7 years). The Beck Inventory for Depression and the SCL90 (Symptom-CheckList) depression subscale were used. Statistical analysis. Descriptive analyzes were performed, χ 2 , Student t test and logistic regression. Results The percentage of students with depressive symptoms was 23% (male 12.3%, women 28.4%), with a significant difference in depressive symptoms between women and men medical students (OR=2.8). 68% of students who had depressive symptoms failed a subject, which was a risk of disapproval of 2.4 times compared with those without such symptomatology. The variables sex and depressive symptomatology were found to be factors related to poor academic performance, with an increased risk for students with symptoms (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.56-3.20).

El rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de las licenciaturas de médico cirujano y fisioterapia determinado por análisis predictivo

Objective To identify and compare the predictive agents associated with medical students´ academic performance that are undertaking cellular biology and human histology, as well as those physiotherapists that take molecular, cellular and tissue biology. Methods An academic follow up was carried out during school. Tools on previous knowledge, vocation, psychological and confrontational means were applied at the beginning of the school year; and the last two were applied two more times afterwards. Data were analyzed considering descriptive, comparative, correlational and predictive statistics. The students´ participation was voluntary and data confidentiality was looked after.