O medicamento, a ansiedade e a depressão

To ascertain the opinion about anxiety, depression and the medicines to treat them by gender, labour activity and age.validated questionnaire; patients attending a Central Portugal Health Centre; doctors and nurses that proposed the questionnaire to all attending patients. Cross sectional observational study, by anonymous and secret self-fulfilment, in a convenience sample drawn from a population composed by all those attending the Health Centre between the 22nd June and the 3rd July (both inclusive) 2009. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed by means of a SPSS 11.0 statistical package. Age groups were defined as: < 36 years, 36-55 years, =56 years and professional activity groups as non-actives (students, retired and unemployed) and actives (housewives, and workers in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors).A n = 281 sample was studied age distribution of < 36 years = 47,7%, 36-55 years = 36,7% and = 56 years = 15,6%, mostly active (69,4% actives) and predominantly female (71,6% women). Age distribution is normal (Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z = 1,644 2 tailed p = 0,009). As results of agreement vs disagreement, showing the significant differences, 'In general medicines for anxiety and for depression are capable of making me feel well' (71,4% vs 15,2%, p = 0,035 by age group), 'In general medicines can relieve the unpleasant sensations caused by day by day stress of actual society' (67,7% vs 22,6%, ns), 'If necessary medicines can relieve my anxiety or depression problems' (52,0% vs 34,1%, p = 0,000 by gender) and 'Anxiety and depression problems are displays of body illnesses' (42,8% vs 33,2%, ns). There is a majority of disagreement for 'In general medicines can, by themselves cure depression or anxiety' (72,5% vs 20,7%, p = 0,013 by sex), 'In general medicines for anxiety or depression can help change the way one sees the problems' (49,4% vs 43,4%, p = 0,041 by age group, p = 0,004 by sex, p = 0,002 by group of professional activity), 'I can feel good just by taking medicines' (71,4% vs 19,8%, p =0,008 by sex, p = 0,006 by professional activity group) and 'Medicines can bring more joy to my life' (58,5% vs 23,9%, p = 0,008 by sex, p = 0,006 by professional activity group). Anxiety problems and depression problems are demonstrations of body diseases, 42,8% vs 33,2%, ns).The pharmacological treatment for anxiety or depression must be individualised by sex, gender, age and activity of patients. In general medicines are judged capable of curing an