According to the National School of Public Health (ENSP), “Social Opinion” questionnaire from Barómetro Covid-19, an ENSP project, which tracks the evolution of Portuguese behavioural perceptions during the pandemic, more and more young people and senior citizens are taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. Although 83% of those questioned said, they never used this type of medication.
Of the people who said they were taking this type of medication, 14% said that they started taking the drug during lockdown (Covid-19 period), 9% have increased their dosage, and 77% said they were happy with their drug dosage.
According to the study, more women than men are taking anti-anxiety and antidepressants (19% compared to 12% of men). Consumption analysis shows that the elderly consume the most (34%), 23% are between 46 and 65 years-old, 14% between 26 and 45 years-old and 9% between 16 and 25 years-old.
The data released today relates to answers given to 170,000 questionnaires issued between the 10th and 24th of April.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com