ASSOCIATION OF DEPRESSIVE AND ANXIOUS SYMPTOMS IN NEUROLOGICAL PATIENTS ASSISTED IN AN AMBULATORY OF SALVADOR - BAHIA

Abstract

Depression affects approximately 3 to 5% of the population and it has sad mood and discouragement as most visible elements. Otherwise, anxiety is a sensation of apprehension or tension that is accompanied by diverse clinical manifestations such as: dyspnea, tachycardia, tremors. When depression and anxiety are related to neurological disorders, they can cause a greater intensity and duration of the clinical condition. This study explored the association between depressive or anxious symptoms and presence of neurological symptoms, diagnosis and sequelae. This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample, carried out at the Neurology and Neurosurgery Foundation in Salvador, Bahia. A total of 131 patients were interviewed and a sociodemographic questionnaire and the HADS scale were used. The mean age of the patients was 47.27 ± 15.31 years. Noticing the neurological data, a higher frequency of neurological symptoms was observed (86.3%), as well as in patients with neurological diagnosis (58.8%), but a lack of neurological sequelae was more frequent (58%). Concerning the anxiety symptons, a higher frequency was observed in the Possible result (43.5%). However, associated with depression, an Improbable result was observed (58.8%). Comparing the average ages with the possible anxious diagnoses, it was verified an average of (47,10); (45.91); (49.94) for the unlikely, possible and probable diagnoses respectively. Concerning the depressive diagnoses, we found the means: (45); (48.54) and (54.8). Therefore, this study concluded that having symptoms, diagnosis and neurological sequelae is not associated with depressive and anxious symptoms. However, not having a neurological diagnosis is important for possible anxiety. And how higher the patient's average age, greater the chances of having depressive symptoms.