Depression, anxiety and stress in depressed patients: study with eads-21

The present study aims to analyze and compare levels of anxiety, depression and stress in exclusively attended patients in psychiatry consultations and in patients exclusively followed in psychology consultations. The sample consisted of 60 patients diagnosed with depression in a Portuguese public hospital, 30 exclusively followed in psychiatry consultations and 30 followed only in psychology consultations, aged between 15 and 74 years. Data were collected through the Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale (EADS-21 validated for the Portuguese population by Pais-Ribeiro et al., 2004; original DASS by Lovibond Lovibond, 1995) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The results showed that the levels of stress, anxiety and depression of the patients followed exclusively in psychotherapy were significantly lower than the patients exclusively followed in psychiatry. The results are discussed considering the type of therapeutic intervention, as well as some sociodemographic and clinical variables, namely those related to significant losses and psychiatric antecedents.