Association between depressive symptoms and dimensions of quality of life and functionality in psychiatric outpatients

• Grant number: 12/23769-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio Baxter Andreoli
• Grantee: Adriana Gonzalez Bueno
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Affective disorders are very disabling psychiatric illnesses. Both major depression (MD) and bipolar affective disorder (BAD), are repeatedly under-diagnosed and inadequately treated, resulting in a large number of chronic and refractory patients. In the following and evaluation of these patients are using some methodological tools. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) is the most widely used and provides quantitative scores for depressive symptoms. The literature seems to agree that the decrease in the number of symptoms is not enough to prove the clinical improvement of patients; this should also be evaluated for aspects of quality of life and disability. These studies, however, did not go deeper to identify what are the specific dimensions of QOL and the features that are associated with symptoms. This identification may allow us to find problems common to patients with affective disorders and thus help health professionals improve treatments through specific approaches. Objective: to study the association between depressive symptoms and dimensions of quality of life and functionality in patients treated in psychiatric outpatients. Method: A cross-sectional study, conducted in psychiatric outpatient, which will be made in interviews with 80 patients with Affective Disorders, without psychiatric comorbidity, diagnosed through the SCID-CV (Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders DSM-IV - Version Clinic). The Hamilton Rating Scale (HAM-D) will be applied to measure symptoms of depression, "Self Form (36) Health Survey" (SF-36) will be applied to assess the dimensions of Quality of Life and the Sheehan Disability Scale ( SDS) to assess functionality. Associations between symptom score with dimensions of quality of life (physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social, emotional and mental health) and the dimensions of features (Work / Studies, Life Social and Family Life / Home Responsibilities) will be analyzed using Pearson's correlation and a multiple linear regression model controlled for demographic variables. (AU)