Abstract

RABASQUINHO, Cidália  and  PEREIRA, Henrique. Género e saúde mental: Uma abordagem epidemiológica. Aná. Psicológica [online]. 2007, vol.25, n.3, pp.439-454. ISSN 0870-8231.

An epidemiologic study was conducted to assess differences between men and women who sought the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service of Amato Lusitano Hospital in Castelo Branco, in terms of presented psychopathology, asked intervention, prescribed psychopharmics, familiar functionality, relatives with previous mental health diagnosis, and suicide attempts. Other demographic variables were also related to the presented psychopathology, in a representative sample of 483 participants randomly selected from a number of 2447 individuals who were offered help from May 1984 to May 2005. Significant results were obtained when Gender was compared to all diagnosed categories, except alcohol and drug abuse, anti-social behaviour, and schizophrenia. The results show stronger vulnerability for women regarding anxious and depressed symptoms, with higher Humour disorders (20,5%) women (W) 72%, men (M) 38%; Anxiety (11,2%): W - 64%, M - 36%; Adaptation to stressing life situations (22,8%): W - 77,3%, M - 22,7%; Somatoforms (0,4%): W - 89%, M - 11%; Whereas men evidenced higher levels of disorders associated with the use of psychoactive substances, such as alcohol (9,3%): (M - 86,7%, W - 13,3%); illegal drugs (2,5%): M - 55%, W - 45%; anti-social behaviour (1,9%): (M - 67%, W - 33%). The results also lead to the conclusion that that are significant differences when specific disorders are investigated, and this corroborated by other findings.

Keywords : Gender; mental health; epidemiologic study.

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