Quality of life in users of the depression treatment program in primary attention

Abstract

The purpose of this study is that of describing the quality of life of women suffering from depression and its relation to sociodemographic variables and those peculiar to depressive symptoms. it is a transversal study in users of the "Program for the detection, diagnosis and integral treatment of depression in Primary Health Care", established in the Urban General Clinics of the country. A sample of201 patients entered the program during the closing months of 2003 and the beginning of 2004, in two outpatient departments of the 5th Region and 5 of the Metropolitan Region. By means of interviews at the time of entry, a set of tests was applied to collect information about sociodemographic variables, depressive symptoms (Criteria of' the C/E-10) and quality of life (Questionnaire SF-36). The average global grading for quality of life corresponds to 44.2 (optimal 100). Lower average dimensions correspond to role limitations due to emotional problems (27.3), mental health (35.7), vitality (35.8), bodily pains (36.9) and

social role (38. 7). Of the sociodemographic variables studied, those associated to quality of life dimensions are schooling, working condition and participation; age and civil status are not included. The higher the intensity of depressive manifestations, the lower is the quality of life observed. As a conclusion, it has been determined that there exists a link between quality of life and depression, which is reinforced when observing a worse quality of life gradient, the greater the intensity of depressive manifestations, and when comparing the grading with the general population of other studies. The more affected dimensions are those to be expected due to the inherent characteristics of depressive manifestations.