Anxiety and Depression among Individuals with Chronic Disease who Refer to Primary Health Care Centers

AIM: This research was performed to determine the depression and anxiety levels of individuals with chronic disease who presented to the primary health care center in central Erzincan for any reason. METHOD: The population of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of individuals with chronic disease who were on treatment and attended the primary health care center No. 1 in central Erzincan for any reason. No sampling was done and any individuals having the mentioned specifications who volunteered to participate, were able to communicate, and were at or above the age of 18 were included in the study (n=340). Data were collected using a questionnaire that contained identifier characteristics of patients and information relating to the disease prepared by the researchers and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: Mean anxiety Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score of patients was found 10.40±2.58, while their mean depression score was 9.47±2.41. When the scores obtained from sub-scales of anxiety and depression were assessed as as sub-threshold or supra-threshold, it was found that 51.2% and 81.5% of the patients received supra-threshold scores, respectively. It was observed that age and gender had a statistically significant effect on the mean anxiety score, while age and level of education had such an impact on the mean depression score. Variables such as marital status, profession, place of residence, monthly income, duration of disease, type of disease, medication use, and dietary compliance did not show any statistically significant correlation with the mean scores of anxiety and depression. There was not any statistically significant relationship between the level of education and the mean score of anxiety. Also there was not any statistically significant relationship between the gender and the mean score of depression. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that a great majority of patients involved in this study are at risk for anxiety and depression. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2010; 9(3): 209-216]