Religiousness, social support and the use of antidepressants among the elderly: a population-based study

Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate whether religiousness and social support were associated with the use of antidepressants among community-dwelling elders. The research involved 1,606 older adults who make up the cohort of Bambu í Project, a study on ageing and health. The dependent variable was the use of antidepressants in the last 90 days, and the exposures of interest were social support and religiousness. Logistic regression was used to test the associations and to estimate crude and adjusted Odds Ratio and their 95% confidence intervals. The chances of use of antidepressants were significantly lower among older people with higher level of religiosity (OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.70), but none of the descriptors social support was associated with the event. In this population, it is possible that religion occup ies a prominent role in the arsenal of health problems coping strategies, especially mental. Health professionals attending this particular segment of the population (elderly people with depressive disorders) should consider religiousness of patients when the proposed guidelines and treatment in cop ing with their mental suffering.Resumo O prop ósito do estudo foi investigar se a religiosidade e o suporte social estariam associados ao uso de antidepressivos entre idosos residentes em comunidade. A investigação envolveu 1.606 integrantes da coorte idosa do Projeto Bambuí, um estudo longitudinal sobre envelhecimento e saúde. A variável de...

Source: Ciencia e Saude Coletiva - March 8, 2018 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research