Introduction:

The lines of research approved in Peruvian universities should consider within their thematic axis health problems of the country, especially in the field of mental health, where there is a deficit of scientific production.

Objective:

To determine the frequency of research lines that include mental health as a study priority in Peruvian universities.

Methods:

Descriptive observational study. The units of analysis were the lines of research approved and available on the website of 34 Peruvian universities that offer psychology courses and that obtained institutional licensing until 2019.

Results:

48% of the lines of research consider as a priority of study the factors associated with depression, violence, addictive behaviors, psychosis and dementia; 20% the state of negative and positive mental health; 4% the development of intersectoral strategies with cultural appropriateness, and another 4% the evaluation of prevention and promotion strategies in mental health with intersectoral participation. In contrast, none consider the dynamics of social, biological, behavioral, family and environmental determinants, nor the implementation of the supply of services for mental health care according to life stages.

Conclusions:

The frequency of research lines that include mental health as a priority of study in Peruvian universities is low. This may have repercussions on the scientific production in mental health and the quality of formative research at the undergraduate level.

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