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80 Covre et al. | Journal of Clinical and Translational Research 2024; 10(1): 78-84
statement of use of psychotropic drugs during some period of their by stimulants among 47.5% (n = 29) and benzodiazepines among
lives, and the priority they give to mental health. It was found 37.7% (n = 23) students. A complete profile of the drugs used is
that the largest population of this sample was female (78.7%; available in Figure 1.
n = 96) and that the most prevalent age group was between 18 and Of the surveyed college students, 21.3% (n = 26) reported
24 years old with (74.6%; n = 91). The data showed that 95.1% self-medication with psychotropic drugs. Evaluating this portion,
(n = 116) of the interviewees considered that medical follow-up 69.2% (n = 18) declared that they have health insurance; 30.8%
is required for assessing a good mental health state. Regarding (n = 8) have regular medical appointments; 53.8% (n = 14) have
the use of psychoactive substances, half of the population (50%; regular medical appointments only when necessary; 15.4% (n = 4)
n = 61), stated that they use or have used psychotropic drugs at do not have regular medical appointments. As for mental health,
some point in their lives. 92.4% (n = 24) consider it a priority problem, which requires
Table 2 shows the mental health characteristics of students who medical follow-up; 3.8% (n = 1) consider it a priority problem,
admitted to using psychotropic drugs at some point in their lives which does not require medical follow-up; 3.8% (n = 1) consider
(n = 61). On entering academic life, the use of psychotropic drugs it a temporary problem that does not require medical attention.
become a common practice in 62.3% (n = 38) of the surveyed Regarding the perception of the risk of psychotropic drug use:
students. On the other hand, regarding the classification of the 61.6% (n = 16) of the students rated it as high risk, 34.6% (n = 9)
assessment of their own health in general terms, 18% (n = 11) as moderate risk, and 3.8% (n = 1) as low risk.
considered it excellent, 37.7% (n = 23) very good, and 37.7% Table 3 depicts the relationship between self-medication,
(n = 23) good. As for the evaluation of the impact on mental health admission into college, and students’ mental health. However,
after entering college, 52.4% (n = 32) and 9.9% (n = 6) stated that there is no statistically significant association between self-
there was a slight and major worsening, respectively, after starting medication, student’s admission into college, and their mental
academic life. health changes. Interestingly, there is discrepancy between the
Many students, amounting to 82.0% (n = 50), reported that the
time spent on other activities has reduced due to the high demand ones that think mental health needs treatment prescribed by a
of academic activities. With regard to their own emotional self- specialist and the ones that regularly go to a doctor.
assessment, about 49.2% (n = 30) considered that they felt 4. Discussion
nervous most of the time. Among these students who use or have
used psychotropic drugs, 49.2% (n = 30) and 19.7% (n = 12) The results of this study revealed that self-medication was
feel exhausted most of the time and all of the time, respectively. practiced by 50% of the surveyed students, who admitted to using
As for depression, about 64.4% (n = 40) felt depressed some psychotropic drugs during some points of their lives. Current
time. Regarding the most used class of psychotropic drugs, findings are in concordance with other studies on students in the
antidepressants stand as the most commonly used class of drugs, health courses [12-14]. Half of the drugs named by the students
measuring at 68.8% (n = 42) of the surveyed students, followed in this survey can only be dispensed with a prescription, and

Table 2. Self-assessment of mental health of students who used psychotropic drugs according to the characteristics of students (n=61)
Variable n (%) p Odds ratio
The beginning of the use of psychotropic drugs was…
Before graduation 23 (37.7) 0.4 0.5 (0.2–1.6)
After graduation 38 (62.3)
What do you think about your health after entering college?
The same or better 23 (37.7) 0.2 0.49 (0.17–1.37)
Worse 38 (62.3)
Did you reduce the time for other activities after college?
Yes 50 (82.0) 0.3 2.27 (0.5–8.5)
No 11 (18.0)
Have you ever felt nervous during your academic life?
All the time or most of the time 41 (67.2) >0.9 1.1 (0.4–3.3)
Some time or never 20 (32.8)
Have you ever felt depressed during your academic life?
All the time or most of the time 11 (19.4) 0.7 1.4 (0.4–5.0)
Some time or never 50 (80.6)
Have you ever felt drained out during your academic life?
All the time or most of the time 42 (68.9) 0.2 1.9 (0.6–6.6)
Some time or never 19 (31.1)
Colatina, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36922/jctr.00093