Características sociodemográficas y clínicas de pacientes diagnosticados con depresión en Centros Comunitarios de Salud Mental (COSAM) de Santiago, Chile

摘要

Introduction: The study aimed to characterize a sample of depressive patients who attend to Community Mental Health Centres (COSAM) in Santiago, regarding their sociodemographicand clinical characteristics and the associations among these variables. Method: 88 patientstreated at 5 different COSAM in Santiago were assessed with self-report questionnaires regardingsociodemographic variables, severity of depressive symptoms (BDI), general and social functioning(OQ-45) and health-related quality of life (SF-36). Descriptive and correlational analyseswere performed to describe sociodemographic and clinical features of the participants, and to address the associations between depressive symptomatology, general functioning and qualityof life. Results: Participants were mostly women, with chronic and severe depressive symptomsand high frequency of comorbid physical illnesses, they presented reduced quality of life andimpairments in general and social functioning. Female gender and a history of physical illnesswere significant predictors of the severity of depressive symptoms. The latter, in turn, showedmoderate to high correlations with the different dimensions of general functioning and quality oflife, especially with lack of vitality, impact of health and emotional problems in social life, work and daily activities and, the perception of an impaired mental health. Conclusion: Depressive disorders in patients treated at COSAM are highly limiting and are associated with low quality of life. The observed profile describes mainly women patients with severe chronic symptoms, in whom physical, emotional and personality vulnerabilities are intertwined, suggesting the needfor an articulated approach to physical and mental health and therapeutic resources consideringthese characteristics.