Objective: To determine the relationship between year levels of medical studies and depressive and anxious symptoms during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of medical students in Lima, controlling specifically the variables sex and presence of underlying medical conditions. Material and Methods: An online survey collected information from 250 medical students, covering general data, previous medical history and symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). Data were managed using multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: Differences were found between years of study and the combined values of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 (Wilks’ Λ = 0.86; p = 1.68 x 10-4; η2p = 0.08). Underlying medical conditions also showed significant differences for the combined values of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 (Wilks’ Λ = 0.94, p = 4.43 x 10-4, η2p = 0.06). The univariate test for year of study sh...

Objective: To determine the relationship and connecting factors between pre-existing diseases, medication intake and peritraumatic distress in physicians in face-to-face activity in the city of Lima, Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study included physicians working in the first line of care of patients with COVID-19, as well as physicians working in other areas. The instruments used were the COVID-19 related Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7). A general linear model was performed taking the CPDI values as the dependent variable to assess distress-related factors. Results: 288 physicians were included, 54.50% of whom worked in the front line. The CPDI value showed a direct relationship with GAD-7 and PHQ-9, as well as with medical illness. A statistically significant direct relationsh...