THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE RATIONAL USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICINES IN ADOLESCENCE

Abstract

Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression have always been common in society, from the past to the present day. The COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 was certainly a phenomenon that generated a scenario of instability and stress, acting as an increase in the incidence of psychological disorders and, consequently, an increase in the use of psychotropic medications. Estimates indicate that the pandemic mainly affected the mental health of adolescents, considering that this group is already going through a turbulent period of human development. Psychotropic drugs used for mental distress act on the central nervous system, chemically altering brain function, which results in changes in mood and behavior. Although they are of great importance and constitute the basis of pharmacological treatment, these substances have considerable adverse effects, including chemical and physical dependence. Therefore, it is vital that they are used rationally. However, the reality seen is totally different. In Brazil, self-medication is a very common practice, so that around 35% of medicines are obtained by people on their own. The present study is a literature review that aims to show the importance of information on the use of psychotropic drugs, especially in adolescence. To this end, searches were carried out in the main databases in the health field – SCIELO and PubMed – and also on Google Scholar. Finally, the analysis of the studies reinforces the importance of increasing the community's level of information regarding the use of these medications in question.