Atenção à saúde mental da pessoa idosa: transtornos mentais comuns, fragilidade e percepções psicossociais na atenção primária à saúde

Abstract

Population aging is a known fact and accompanied by international policies, with a view to promoting health conditions in order to generate satisfactory experiences, with preservation of autonomy and quality of life for the elderly. Also considering the decline of some behavioral functions and the greater presence of chronic non-communicable diseases, the group of mental suffering becomes an important part of the disease burden, and should be currently addressed within the lines of care for the elderly in the primary care network the health. The objective was to analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly people in the context of Primary Health Care, considering the presence of Common Mental Disorder, frailty and self-perception of health in the elderly and perceptions of psychosocial complaints and behaviors of members of health teams. It is a mixed methods research, with data collection in sequential phases. Quantitative data were collected from the elderly in the first phase, using the Self Reporting Questionaire, Tilburg Frailty Indicator, self-rated health questionnaire, medication use and general sociodemographic data. In a second qualitative phase, the professionals who make up the primary care teams in the same coverage areas were interviewed. 205 elderly people participated in the research, mostly women (65.9%), aged between 60 and 69 years (60.5%), with 1 to 4 years of study (53.7%) and retired (80%). , currently unoccupied (92.2%). Individual income is mostly up to 1 minimum wage. A score suggestive of a common mental disorder was found in 32.6% of the participants, associated with frailty and use of a greater amount of medication. Regarding the situation of frailty, this was present in 54.1% of the elderly. In terms of self-perception of health, the majority rated their health as good/very good (58%) and polypharmacy was identified in 22% of participants. users. In the professionals' speeches, three categories emerged, Search for care by the elderly, Conduct of the Teams in the face of psychosocial complaints and Care Network and other points in the municipality. It was observed that despite the presence of mental disorders, professional approaches in primary care are fragile, requiring strategies to strengthen and qualify teams for extended care for the elderly.