Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40027911›Full record

ArticleIndian journal of psychological medicine2025

A National Epidemiologic Mixed-methods Study on Depression, Anxiety, Substance Use, Treatment Needs and Barriers and Facilitators to Treatment Among Medical Students.

Julio Torales, Anthon Torres, Martín Sánchez, Marcelo O'Higgins, Diego Amarilla, Andrew Molodynski, Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez, Antonio Ventriglio, João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia, Iván Barrios and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Indian journal of psychological medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Julio ToralesUniversidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Cátedra de Psicología Médica, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3277-7036
Anthon TorresUniversidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Red de Estudiantes Investigadores en Neurociencias, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7978-2660
Martín SánchezUniversidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Red de Estudiantes Investigadores en Neurociencias, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Marcelo O'HigginsUniversidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Cátedra de Psicología Médica, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Diego AmarillaUniversidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Cátedra de Psicología Médica, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Andrew MolodynskiOxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Tomás Caycho-RodríguezUniversidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú.
Antonio VentriglioDept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3934-7007
João Mauricio Castaldelli-MaiaDept. of Neuroscience, Fundação do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Iván BarriosUniversidad Sudamericana, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6843-7685
Red de Estudiantes Investigadores En NeurocienciasUniversidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Red de Estudiantes Investigadores en Neurociencias, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Research on the mental health of medical students enrolled in Paraguayan universities has mainly examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression, with limited exploration of treatment access, barriers, and facilitators. Additionally, substance use, such as alcohol and other substances, is of significant concern because of its association with mental health issues. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, as well as to identify barriers and facilitators influencing medical students' access to mental health and substance use treatment in the Republic of Paraguay. Methods: A national mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted with 532 medical students from public and private universities across the Republic of Paraguay. Data were collected via an online survey in 2024 using validated tools to measure mental health conditions, including alcohol and other substance use. Qualitative responses regarding barriers to and facilitators of treatment were categorized and analyzed. Results: The findings revealed high rates of anxiety (76.8%) and depression (39.3%). Substance use was also concerning, with 11.1% reporting alcohol-related problems and 1.9% reporting other substance-related problems. Barriers to seeking treatment included confidentiality concerns, stigma, and financial constraints, while facilitators included trust in the mental health system, emotional distress, and accessibility. Despite the availability of these services, many students felt unsupported by their universities. Conclusions: Paraguayan universities must urgently address the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use, improve service accessibility, and build trust in the academic environment. Tackling these issues is crucial for safeguarding medical students' mental health and future.

Indexed as

barriers to health carehealth services accessibilitymedical studentsMental health

Identifiers

PMID40027911
PMCPMC11869220

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.