Medical Student presents work at the Brazilian Congress of Mental Health

The growing incidence of mental illnesses in workers is among the leading causes of disability, having been the subject of several studies. Following this line, medical student Leonardo Rabelo de Melo participated in the Brazilian Congress on Mental Health, which took place from June 7th to 9th, at the Ceará Convention Center and at the University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR). On the occasion, he presented the work Mental illness in Brazilian Air Force soldiers, stationed in the city of Salvador-BA.

The research, which was carried out in conjunction with medical students Lívia Oliveira Albuquerque and Mayana Lessa de Oliveira and supervised by Professor Dr. Marlene Silva, was carried out between January and December 2009, with Air Force soldiers. Among the most common cases diagnosed, depressive episodes, recurrent depressive disorders and personality disorders stood out.

Check the results
There were 44 DM diagnoses (8,9%) in 31 soldiers (6,3%), with a frequency three times higher among women (15,4%), mainly in the age group from 21 to 31 years (8,1% ) and mixed race/color (9,5%). Non-drinkers and smokers had a higher proportion of DM (7,8% and 13,6%), respectively. DM stood out among 1st lieutenants (21,4%) and corporals (10,4%), with the most common cases of Depressive Episodes (n=7), Recurrent Depressive Disorders (n=7) and Personality Disorders ( n=6)

Conclusion
Thus, it appears that factors such as gender, race and rank/graduation are possible determinants of mental illness in the Brazilian Air Force, which is worrying because these workers are responsible for the safety of the nation's airspace.