Epidemiological features of mental health impairments on Pará state, Brazil

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the epidemiological aspects of mental health problems in the state of Pará, Brazil, from 2010 to 2020. Methods: This is a descriptive and retrospective study, with a quantitative approach in a 10-year time series, using data collected through Notifiable Diseases Information System. Results: 30,586 occurrences notified with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10 corresponding to the chapter of psychiatric illnesses, which were predominantly male, in age groups of the working-age population, comprising the age groups from 20 to 49 years and brown. The number of notified deaths was 81, representing 0.26% of the sample. Conclusion: Men have a higher number of psychiatric hospitalizations due to more severe and earlier psychological symptoms, due to alcoholism - the main clinical justification for involuntary hospitalizations being more prevalent in males, in addition to having lower rates of demand for primary health services. Regarding the age group, the individuals are mostly economically active, whose high unemployment rate during hospitalizations can aggravate the evolution of the condition. The population studied is predominantly brown, as is the majority of the Brazilian population. As for deaths, the low number can be explained by the protection and care offered by psychiatric hospitals. Finally, we emphasize the need for proposals to improve the longitudinality of care and adequate support for deinstitutionalized patients, since individuals discharged from psychiatric hospitals show an increase in the mortality rate after the hospitalization period.