INTRODUCTION: During the Medical Residency in Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, residents' lack of emotional maturity leads to feelings of insecurity and anxiety regarding their future careers. Mental health professionals, together with staff and residency supervisors, are responsible for supporting residents in their professional experiences. OBJECTIVE: Identify levels of anxiety and depression and their interference in students' motivation and course performance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An 11-item scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were applied. RESULTS: 50% of the students presented anxiety, while the other 50% did not. According to HADS, 56% of the students presented depression related to their professional and academic performance. CONCLUSION: Low academic and professional performance is linked to experiencing a stressful process, triggered by residents' lack of determination and organization and socioeconomic and family problems that cause anxiety and/or depression, disorganizing their performance during residency.