Introduction:

depression is a recurrent and disabling mental disorder, resulting from the influence of social, psychological and biological factors, among the academic courses, Medicine has the highest prevalence of this psychopathology.

Objective:

to compare depression rates among medicine students enrolled in institutions that adopt active and traditional methodologies.

Methodology:

field research, cross-sectional, was a quantitative approach, carried out through a form available on social networks and approved by the Ethics Committee (n° 5.210.194/2021). For data collection, the Beck Inventory was used, which was applied to 138 students. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and to infer prediction between variables, binary logistic regression (enter method), Mann-Whitney U for comparison between groups and effect size calculations (r) were used, in addition to Pearson's chi-square (2x4) for associations and calculations of prevalence for each group (p < 0,05).

Results:

the research showed a mean age of 23,55 ±3,96 and a predominance of females (65,33%). A prevalence of depression was observed among eighth-year medical students of 36,6%. It was possible to observe the teaching methodology and depression had a statistically significant impact on suicidal desires. Furthermore, it was not possible to find statistically significant differences between teaching methodologies (active methodologies and traditional methodology) and depression (U = 1633,000, z = -1,488, p < 0,13).

Conclusion:

the results of this study reinforce the necessity for further research, especially comparing traditional and active teaching, since they are scarce. In addition, assessing the mental health of medical students is fundamental, as it is necessary to take care of the person who will provide care.

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