Use of Psychopharmaceuticals for Treating Anxiety During COVID-19 isolation in Detained Women in Santa Fe in 2020

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the implementation of psychopharmacological treatments for anxiety in incarcerated women during the Preventive and Mandatory Social Isolation (PMSI) in the COVID-19 pandemic, in the Penal Unit No. IV of the city of Santa Fe, from January to June 2020. Objective: The objective of this research is to characterize the profile of psychopharmacological use and to evaluate if there were variations during the PMSI compared to the pre-pandemic period and analyze through a documentary review of clinical histories from a quantitative perspective based on existing data on the prescription of psychotropic drugs. Method: A descriptive and comparative approach is proposed to describe the profile of anxiety symptoms in incarcerated women in the city of Santa Fe during the mentioned period. The potential impact of the PMSI on the mental health of detained women justifies the research. Results: The results reveal an increase in the number of treatments during the PMSI, with 29% of detained women presenting anxiety symptoms that required psychopharmacological treatment. Reactive anxiety was the main reason for prescription, both before and during the PMSI. In addition, a significant variation in the use of psychotropic drugs was observed, where sedative-profile antipsychotics were used in combination for treatment. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the PMSI, the presence of anxiety symptoms, and the increase in the implementation of psychopharmacological treatments in detained women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Santa Fe, Argentina.