Use of Psychiatric Drugs Among Healthcare Workers in Extreme Southern Brazil During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20435/pssa.v14i3.1907

Keywords:

Sars-CoV-2, antidepressant, benzodiazepine, psychotropic, healthcare workers

Abstract

Aim: To describe the use of psychiatric drugs among healthcare workers (HCWs) at some point in their lives and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, extreme southern Brazil, between June and September 2021. The study sample consisted of 147 HCWs (doctors, nurses, nursing technicians, radiology technicians, and physiotherapists) in two hospitals. The outcome was accessed through two questions: 1. Have you ever used any psychiatric drugs? (No/Yes); 2. Did you start to use psychiatric drugs (for the first time) during the Covid-19 pandemic? (No/Yes). In addition, the characteristics related to the use of psychiatric medications were also investigated. Results: 44.2% of HCWs used psychiatric drugs at some time in their lives, of whom 40% started to use such drugs during the Covid-19 pandemic (17.7% of the whole study sample). Antidepressants were the most commonly used drugs (46.1%), and 50% used the drugs for anxiety. About 43% reported that the drugs were not prescribed by doctors. Conclusions:  Use of psychiatric drugs, especially self-medicating, is common among hospital HCWs, and the Covid-19 may have increased such behavior.

Author Biographies

Tyele Goulart Peres, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)

Doctoral student in Health Sciences at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG). Doctoral scholarship holder (CAPES). Master in Public Health at the FURG.

Marina Tramontina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)

Medical student at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FAMED-FURG). Scientific Initiation Scholarship holder (FAPERGS).

Yasmin Marques Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)

Master's student in Public Health at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG). Master's Scholarship holder (CAPES).

Linjie Zhang, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)

Doctorate in Pneumological Sciences at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Master in Medicine at the Institute of Pediatrics of Capital (IPC-CHINA). Full professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Rio Grande (FAMED-FURG). CNPq Research Productivity Scholarship - Level 2.

Ivy Bastos Ramis de Souza, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)

Doctorate in Biotechnology at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPEL). Master in Health Sciences at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG). Adjunct professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Rio Grande (FAMED-FURG) and adjunct coordinator of the Graduate Program in Health Sciences at the FURG.

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Published

2023-02-27

How to Cite

Peres, T. G., Tramontina, M. S. M. ., Castro, Y. M., Zhang, L., & Souza, I. B. R. de. (2023). Use of Psychiatric Drugs Among Healthcare Workers in Extreme Southern Brazil During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Revista Psicologia E Saúde, 14(3), 109–116. https://doi.org/10.20435/pssa.v14i3.1907

Issue

v.14, n. 3, jul./set. 2022

Section

Articles

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