Transtornos mentais em comunidade atendida pelo Programa Saúde da Família

The first objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of mood, anxiety, and somatoform disorders (MASD) using the screening tool Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 Items (SRQ-20) in a community assisted by the Family Health Program (FHP) in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The second goal was to verify associations between demographic variables and MASD. We invited all residents>14 years of age to participate. The total sample consisted of 1,122 subjects. MASD prevalence was 38% (95%CI: 35.12-40.88). Female gender, low schooling, and unemployment were independently associated with MASD. The high prevalence of MASD observed in this study confirms the relevance of these disorders for public health planning, and could also help explain the high suicide rate in Santa Cruz do Sul in the last decade (4.66 times the national rate). Finally, the study highlights the importance of including mental health in the FHP priority agenda in Brazil.