HIGH CONSUMPTION OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND THEIR MOTIVATIONS

Abstract

Depression assumes a high prevalence rate in the world, it is estimated that the prevalence of this disorder in the world population was around 14%, and that in Brazil it rose to 18.4%, the highest percentage among developing countries and the third globally. The objective of this work was this study aims to identify the reasons that motivate patients' adherence to the drugs indicated for the treatment of depressive disorders. The methodology used was a literature review where thirty-four articles were selected. As inclusion criteria for screening studies, articles published in Portuguese between January 2010 and December 2018 were defined, with an approach involving depression (concept, symptoms and treatment) and the use of antidepressants. Repeated articles, abstracts, dissertations and theses were excluded. It is concluded that the reasons that motivate the high use of antidepressants such as: increase in the aging of society and the sociodemographic conditions of the population; high numbers of unnecessary antidepressant prescriptions; expansion of indications for antidepressants for other conditions other than depressive disorder and medicalization, where society seeks to eliminate suffering with drug therapy