OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) and its association with sociodemographics and professionals resident in medicine, nursing, nutrition and public health from the city of Recife (PE). METHODS: A survey was conducted in 2007, involving a random sample of 178 residents, who responded to question about sociodemographics and professional training and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). The prevalence of CMD were calculated, also prevalence ratios (PR) and confidence intervals were estimated. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CMD was 51.1%, and there was no association with sociodemographics factors. The prevalence of the event was 39% higher among the physicians than in the non-medical (p = 0,049) and 46% greater in the surgical specialties medical residents than among nursing, nutrition and public health (p = 0,048). Five of the SRQ-20 items were more frequent in female (p < 0,05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate the high magnitude of CMD in this population, especially medical residents and serve to educators and managers of health services in order to define strategies to prevent and recover the mental health and the quality of life of the residents.
Mental disorders; mental health; internship and residency; medical education
