Consumo de medicamentos antidepressivos e ansiolíticos: evolução e determinantes contextuais

Abstract

Introduction: Portugal is one of the European countries with highest consumption rates of antidepressants and anxiolytics. It is known that mental health is influenced by multifarious factors, including socioeconomic, and lower education and income, unemployment and socioeconomic deprivation have a clear impact on depression and anxiety. Though, we don't know how these factors affected these substances' consumption rates in the last decade. This study will help to shed a light in what could be done to improve mental health in Portugal. Methods: This observational ecological study assessed for associations between socioeconomic and demographic factors and the consumption of antidepressants and anxiolytics, using linear regression analyses. Results: Significant associations were found between the consumption of antidepressants and age index (coef:1.35, p<0.001) and sex ratio (coef:24.67, p<0.001), and between anxiolytics and sex ratio (coef.:120.75, p<0.05)education (coef.:-291.02, p<0.05), income(coef.:2.31, p<0.05), purchasing power (coef.:22.76, p<0.01) and the proportion of inhabitants with social benefits (coef.:315.12, p<0.01). Discussion: To improve mental health in Portugal we need to improve (1) the understanding on how socioeconomic and demographic factors influence mental health, (2) policies on antidepressants' and anxiolytics' prescriptions and making other approaches available, (3) professionals' awareness and (4) combat the poor socioeconomic conditions in which these diseases capitalise. Conclusion: This study brought light to the importance and evolution of anxiety and depressive disorders in Portugal and to the better understanding of its contextual determinants. This knowledge can contribute to better manage these conditions and to gain healthy life years.