Floriano FDF, Pereira LC, Junges JR. Professionals’ perception of the risks of medication use by patients with depressive disorders. Interface (Botucatu). 2026; 30: e250533 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/interface.250533
Abstract
The study analyzed the perceptions of Primary Health Care and Mental Health professionals regarding risks associated with medication use in the care of people with depressive disorders. This qualitative, exploratory study was conducted in a municipality in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, involving professionals from a Primary Care Unit, Family Health Strategy teams, and a Mental Health Support Team. Data were generated through focus groups and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three analytical categories emerged: medication abuse, polypharmacy and therapeutic duplication, and discontinuation of antidepressant use. The findings highlight the centrality of medicalization, weaknesses in pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, and risks to patient safety. It is concluded that strengthening the rational use of psychotropic drugs requires longitudinal monitoring, non-pharmacological strategies, and attention to users’ social conditions.
Keywords
Patient safety; Primary health care services; Medication errors; Chronic diseases; Depressive conditions
Access in: https://doi.org/10.1590/interface.250533
