Conductas repetitivas orientadas al cuerpo y su asociación con síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes de medicina paraguayos: un estudio transversal

Authors

  • Iván Barrios 1- Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay; 2- 2Universidad Sudamericana, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6843-7685
  • Gladys Estigarribia 1- Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay; 3- Universidad Nacional de Caaguazú, Instituto Regional de Investigación en Salud. Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8058-9369
  • Raúl Araujo Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3057-4189
  • Gerardo Ávalos Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3680-5691
  • Rubén Castro Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9882-8257
  • Cristian Coronel Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1745-5857
  • Charlis Vázquez Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1568-9414
  • Marcelo O´Higgins Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. San Lorenzo, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8257-0183
  • Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez Universidad Científica del Sur. Lima, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5349-7570
  • Antonio Ventriglio University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine. Foggia, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3934-7007
  • João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia 1- Fundação do ABC, Department of Neuroscience. Santo André, SP, Brazil; 2- University of São Paulo, Department of Psychiatry. São Paulo, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9621-2291
  • Julio Torales 1- Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas – Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay; 2- Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. San Lorenzo, Paraguay; 3- 8Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3277-7036

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53732/rccsalud/2025.e7114

Keywords:

body-focused repetitive behaviors, depression, anxiety, stress, medical students, paraguay

Abstract

Introduction. Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), such as trichotillomania and excoriation disorder, significantly impact quality of life, psychological well-being, and academic performance. However, research on their association with mental health symptoms in Paraguayan medical students is limited. Objective. To describe the prevalence of BFRBs in medical students and their association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Materials and Methods. This was an observational study involving 158 medical students in Paraguay, selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Validated Spanish-language instruments were used, including the Skin Picking Scale-Revised, the Massachusetts General Hospital Hair Pulling Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Associations between variables were assessed using the chi-square test (significance level of 5%). Results. The prevalence of excoriation disorder was 22.8%, and that of trichotillomania was 7%. Depression was present in 63.3% of students, anxiety in 62.7%, and stress in 56.3%. Depression increased the odds of excoriation disorder ninefold (OR = 9.03; p < 0.001), while anxiety (OR = 4.9; p < 0.001) and stress (OR = 5.34; p < 0.001) also showed significant associations. Trichotillomania was not associated with these symptoms. Conclusion. The high prevalence of BFRBs and their association with mental health symptoms highlight the need for targeted interventions in medical students to improve their psychological well-being and academic performance.

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Published

2025-07-31

How to Cite

1.
Barrios I, Estigarribia G, Araujo R, Ávalos G, Castro R, Coronel C, Vázquez C, O´Higgins M, Caycho-Rodríguez T, Ventriglio A, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Torales J. Conductas repetitivas orientadas al cuerpo y su asociación con síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes de medicina paraguayos: un estudio transversal. Rev. cient. cienc. salud [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 31 [cited 2025 Aug. 16];7:01-9. Available from: https://revistascientificas.upacifico.edu.py/index.php/PublicacionesUP_Salud/article/view/831

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Vol. 7 (2025): Revista científica ciencias de la salud - ISSN: 2664-2891

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