engleski

Mental and Behavioral Disorders in International Students at University of Zagreb

Introduction International students are diverse and increasing population at a numerous universities, including University of Zagreb. Because of demands for cultural adjustments than students in general, they are frequently placed at greater risk for psychological problems. At University of Zagreb School of Medicine, multidisciplinary counselling service was established for international students since 2014. The aim of this study was to analyze reasons for utilization of existing counselling service by international students because of mental health issues. Methods Data were obtained retrospectively from medical records of international students (28 boys, 59 girls) who visited multidisciplinary counselling service because of mental health issues in years 2014 and 2015. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistic. Results Due to mental and behavioural disorders, help in counselling service was demand more by girls than boys (59 vs. 28). The most common reasons were adjustment disorder, present in 15 students, followed by nonorganic insomnia and specific phobias, present in seven students, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, present in six students, and acute stress reaction, predominantly obsessional thoughts or ruminations and unspecified anxiety disorder, present in five students. The majority of most common reasons of visiting counselling service because of mental health concerns, were present more in girls than in boys: adjustment disorders (10 vs. five), specific phobias (six vs. one), mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (five vs. one), predominantly obsessional thoughts or ruminations, present only in five girls and unspecified anxiety disorder (four vs. one). Nonorganic insomnia had four boys and three girls and acute stress reaction had only five boys. Discussion The results highlighted the importance of sufficient and readily accessible counselling health services with holistic, preventive and optimistic approach. Such approach is offered at University of Zagreb School of Medicine due to work of school medicine specialist, family medicine specialist and psychiatrist in multidisciplinary counselling service for international students.

students; mental disorders; counselling

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