Prevalence and factors associated with body dysmorphic disorder in women under dermatological care at a Brazilian public institution

Abstract Background: Body dysmorphic disorder consists of excessive concern with minimal appearance defects, which causes functional impairment. Its prevalence is estimated to range from 5% to 35% of dermatological patients, especially adult women with esthetic complaints. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with dysmorphic disorder in female dermatological patients, in a public institution in Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving adult women attended at a public dermatological service in Brazil. Participants underwent a demographic survey, in addition to a screening form for body dysmorphic disorder (Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination [BDDE]). The presence of dysmorphic disorder (BDDE > 66 points) was assessed among the participants according to demographic covariates and psychological problems, through logistic regression. Results: A total of 223 women were evaluated. The BDDE showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90). It is noteworthy the high prevalence of psychological problems and the fact that over one-third (38%) of the sample presented a high degree of dissatisfaction with their image. The prevalence of dysmorphic disorder was 48% among women with esthetic complaints and 30% among the others (p < 0.01). Lower family income (OR = 2.97), history of domestic violence (OR = 3.23), search for dermatological care due to an esthetic complaint (OR = 2.05), and suicidal ideation (OR = 4.22) were independently associated with the occurrence of body dysmorphic disorder. Study limitations: This was a single-center study of a non-randomized sample from public service. Conclusions: Body dysmorphic disorder is prevalent among female dermatological patients; it is associated with traumatic psychological experiences, lower income, affective disorders, and demand for esthetic care. It is essential to recognize the diagnosis in order to treat such patients and refer them for appropriate psychiatric treatment instead of trying to satisfy their esthetic demands.

Hazing and the Mental Health of Medical Students / O Trote e a Saúde Mental de Estudantes de Medicina

ABSTRACT Introduction: The practice of hazing is a phenomenon that began in the Middle Ages and persists in many universities around the world. In Brazil, although the problem is widely recognized, it has been insufficiently studied. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and to identify factors associated with the occurrence of hazing in a public Medical School, located in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 477 medical students from the first to the sixth year of the course. The self-reporting questionnaire included questions and structured instruments to access: socio-demographic and academic life characteristics, social support, symptoms of depression, harmful alcohol use (using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test — Audit), common mental disorder (using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire — SRQ) and if the participant had suffered any form of hazing that he/she considered abusive or if the participant had practiced hazing about which he/she felt guilty or regretful afterwards. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression were conducted to identify factors independently associated with each of the outcomes (having suffered abusive hazing or having participated in hazing and feeling regretful afterwards). Results: The response rate was 87.0%. Among the students, 39.8% (95% Cl: 35.4% — 44.2%) reported having suffered abusive hazing, while 7.5% (95% CI: 5.2% — 9.9%) reported having practiced hazing of which they repented. Being subjected to abusive hazing was associated with: male gender, not being adapted to the city, presenting lower scores on the social support scale and psychiatric and/or psychological treatment after admission to university. Having practiced hazing, in turn, was associated with male gender, older age and higher score in the Audit. Conclusion: Hazing was associated with male gender, and with the pursuit of mental health treatment among those who received it and with harmful alcohol use among the perpetrators. It is essential that medical schools discuss and better understand the problem of hazing in order to adopt effective preventive measures.

RESUMO Introdução: A prática do trote é um fenômeno que teve início na Idade Média e ainda persiste em muitas universidades pelo mundo. No Brasil, embora seja um problema amplamente reconhecido, tem sido insuficientemente estudado. Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência e identificar fatores associados à ocorrência de trote numa faculdade de Medicina pública, localizada no interior do Estado de São Paulo. Método: Foi realizado um estudo transversal do qual participaram 477 estudantes de Medicina do primeiro ao sexto ano do curso. O questionário autopreenchido continha questões e instrumentos estruturados que permitiram avaliar: características sociodemográficas e da vida acadêmica, apoio social, sintomas depressivos, uso problemático de álcool (por meio do Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test — Audit), transtorno mental comum (por meio do Self Reporting Questionnaire — SRQ) e se o participante sofreu trote que considerou abusivo ou se aplicou trote do qual se arrependeu posteriormente. Foi realizada análise bivariada e regressão logística para identificar fatores independentemente associados a cada um dos desfechos (ter sofrido trote que considerou abusivo ou ter aplicado trote do qual se arrependeu posteriormente). Resultados: A taxa de resposta foi de 87,0%. Relataram ter sofrido trote abusivo 39,8% (IC95% 35,4% — 44,2%) dos estudantes, enquanto afirmaram ter aplicado trote do qual se arrependeram 7,5% (IC95% 5,2% — 9,9%) deles. Ter sofrido trote abusivo associou-se a: sexo masculino, não estar adaptado à cidade, apresentar menor escore na escala de apoio social e ter feito ou estar fazendo tratamento psiquiátrico e/ou psicológico após o ingresso na universidade. Ter aplicado trote, por sua vez, também se associou a sexo masculino, assim como a maior idade e maior pontuação no Audit. Conclusão: Trote associou-se a sexo masculino e à procura por tratamento de saúde mental entre os que o receberam e a uso problemático de álcool entre os que o praticaram. É fundamental que as instituições debatam e compreendam melhor o problema do trote, a fim de adotar medidas efetivas para que este seja prevenido.

O Trote e a Saúde Mental de Estudantes de Medicina / Hazing and the Mental Health of Medical Students

RESUMO Introdução A prática do trote é um fenômeno que teve início na Idade Média e ainda persiste em muitas universidades pelo mundo. No Brasil, embora seja um problema amplamente reconhecido, tem sido insuficientemente estudado. Objetivo Estimar a prevalência e identificar fatores associados à ocorrência de trote numa faculdade de Medicina pública, localizada no interior do Estado de São Paulo. Método Foi realizado um estudo transversal do qual participaram 477 estudantes de Medicina do primeiro ao sexto ano do curso. O questionário autopreenchido continha questões e instrumentos estruturados que permitiram avaliar: características sociodemográficas e da vida acadêmica, apoio social, sintomas depressivos, uso problemático de álcool (por meio do Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test - Audit), transtorno mental comum (por meio do Self Reporting Questionnaire - SRQ) e se o participante sofreu trote que considerou abusivo ou se aplicou trote do qual se arrependeu posteriormente. Foi realizada análise bivariada e regressão logística para identificar fatores independentemente associados a cada um dos desfechos (ter sofrido trote que considerou abusivo ou ter aplicado trote do qual se arrependeu posteriormente). Resultados A taxa de resposta foi de 87,0%. Relataram ter sofrido trote abusivo 39,8% (IC95% 35,4% - 44,2%) dos estudantes, enquanto afirmaram ter aplicado trote do qual se arrependeram 7,5% (IC95% 5,2% - 9,9%) deles. Ter sofrido trote abusivo associou-se a: sexo masculino, não estar adaptado à cidade, apresentar menor escore na escala de apoio social e ter feito ou estar fazendo tratamento psiquiátrico e/ou psicológico após o ingresso na universidade. Ter aplicado trote, por sua vez, também se associou a sexo masculino, assim como a maior idade e maior pontuação no Audit. Conclusão Trote associou-se a sexo masculino e à procura por tratamento de saúde mental entre os que o receberam e a uso problemático de álcool entre os que o praticaram. É fundamental que as instituições debatam e compreendam melhor o problema do trote, a fim de adotar medidas efetivas para que este seja prevenido.

ABSTRACT Introduction The practice of hazing is a phenomenon that began in the middle ages and persists in many universities around the world. In Brazil, although the problem is widely recognized, it has been insufficiently studied. Objective To estimate the prevalence of hazing among medical students of a public university in São Paulo state - Brazil, and investigate factors associated with this problem. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 477 medical students from the first to the sixth year of the course. The self-reporting questionnaire included questions and structured instruments to access: socio-demographic characteristics, aspects of academic life, social support, symptoms of depression, harmful alcohol use (using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test - AUDIT), common mental disorder (using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire - SRQ), whether the participant had suffered any form of hazing that he/she considered abusive or whether the participant had practiced hazing about which he/she felt guilty or regretful afterwards. Bivariate analyses were conducted, followed by logistic regression analyses to identify independent predictors of these two outcomes (having suffered abusive hazing or having participated in hazing and feeling regretful afterwards). Results The response rate was 87.0%. Among the participants, 39.8% (95% CI: 35.4% - 44.2%) reported having suffered abusive hazing and 7.5% (95% CI: 5.2% - 9.9%) reported having practiced hazing. Those who reported having suffered abusive hazing were more likely to be male, to report difficulties in adaptation to the city, lower social support and psychiatric and/or psychological treatment after entering university. Those who practiced hazing and felt regretful afterwards were also more likely to be male, were older and presented higher mean scores in the AUDIT. Conclusion Hazing was associated with the male sex and mental health treatment among the victims, and with harmful alcohol use among the perpetrators. It is essential that medical schools discuss and better understand the problem of hazing in order to adopt effective preventive measures.