Abstract

BERBESI FERNANDEZ, Dedsy Yajaira  and  SEGURA CARDONA, Ángela María. SOCIAL/DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AND VITAL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH DEPRESSION. Investig. andina [online]. 2009, vol.11, n.19, pp.6-16. ISSN 0124-8146.

Introduction: depression is the most frequent disabling mental disorder: the present study strives to analyze the social/demographic factors and vital events associated to depression in patients in 14 hospitals in the State of Antioquia. Methods: a study of cases and controls in a population of 204 patients in hospitals of first level of attention was designed. The sample was selected by convenience. The patients diagnosed with depression were evaluated within three months of having started treatment and were classified: no improvement (case) and with clinical improvement (control). Results: there was an association found between no improvement of the depressive symptoms after three months of starting anti-depressive treatment and the social/ demographic background, financial problems and vital events. Conclusion: the main factors associated with depression that were found are: not having an affiliation regime to the social security and health system; financial problems, death of a son/daughter and psychological and physical domestic violence, which point to the need to explore these variables.

Keywords : depression; risk factors; secondary prevention.

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