Use of Psychiatric Drugs Among Healthcare Workers in Extreme Southern Brazil During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Aim: To describe the use of psychiatric drugs among healthcare workers (HCWs) at some point in their lives and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, extreme southern Brazil, between June and September 2021. The study sample consisted of 147 HCWs (doctors, nurses, nursing technicians, radiology technicians, and physiotherapists) in two hospitals. The outcome was accessed through two questions: 1. Have you ever used any psychiatric drugs? (No/Yes); 2. Did you start to use psychiatric drugs (for the first time) during the Covid-19 pandemic? (No/Yes). In addition, the characteristics related to the use of psychiatric medications were also investigated. Results: 44.2% of HCWs used psychiatric drugs at some time in their lives, of whom 40% started to use such drugs during the Covid-19 pandemic (17.7% of the whole study sample). Antidepressants were the most commonly used drugs (46.1%), and 50% used the drugs for anxiety. About 43% reported that the drugs were not prescribed by doctors. Conclusions:  Use of psychiatric drugs, especially self-medicating, is common among hospital HCWs, and the Covid-19 may have increased such behavior.