Qualidade de vida, sintomas depressivos e de ansiedade dos curante a pandemia da COVID-19: um estudo em pacientes com esquizofrenia em uso de antipsicóticos atípicomparados à população geral, MG 2021-2022.

Abstract

The pandemic generated consequences for the population’s health and prompted the attention of institutions and health professionals. One of the main adverse effects was on mental health, especially in more vulnerable populations. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the quality of life and the depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with schizophrenia and the general population. We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study including patients with schizophrenia using atypical antipsychotics treated by the pharmacy of the Specialized Component of Pharmaceutical Care and the general population. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and the instruments EQ-5D-3L (to measure quality of life), PHQ-9 (depressive symptoms), and GAD-7 (anxiety symptoms). Among the main results, the study showed that patients with schizophrenia had higher mean scores for depressive symptoms (10.2), anxiety (8.7), and quality of life (7.6) than the general population (6.9, 6.7, and 6.3, respectively; p<0.05). Factors associated with worse outcomes of anxiety and depressive symptoms and quality of life in people living with schizophrenia have been identified. These findings support public policies and intervention programs to improve the quality of life of individuals with schizophrenia.