[Depression and seasonal sensitivity among medical students residing in high southern latitudes]

There is no evidence for the association of depressive symptoms with the sense of well-being of undergraduate medical students residing in high southern latitudes (HSL).

To assess the frequency of depressive symptoms and its relationship with seasonal sensitivity and quality of life in medical students residing in HSL.

The Beck anxiety and depressive symptoms inventory, the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire and the quality-of-life questionnaire of the WHO were applied to 102 medical students residing in Magallanes, Chile.

Fifty-two percent of respondents reported some degree of depressive symptoms. These symptoms were significantly associated with the seasonal pattern score (r = 0.432, p < 0.01). They were also inversely associated with parameters of physical health and psychosocial health (r = -0.567, p < 0.01 and r = -0.708, p < 0.01, respectively). There was also a correlation between depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Depressive symptoms are common in medical students residing in HSL and they are associated with seasonal sensitivity and quality of life measures.