Stosowanie substancji psychoaktywnych i poziom zasobów osobistych wśród mężczyzn z zaburzeniami depresyjnymi – badanie pilotażowe

Introduction: Many of the symptoms of depression in men can be placed in the category of other mental health problems, such as substance abuse. Personal resources are important factors that can have a positive impact on the treatment of people affected by depression. The aim of the study was to analyze the use of alcohol and nicotine and the level of personal resources among men diagnosed with depression. Methods: A questionnaire consisted of six tests: test with sociodemographic variables, AUDIT Test, Fagerstrom Test, Emotion Control Scale, Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale. To ensure reliability that in the control group are only men without depression, an additional test for this group was added - Gotland Male Depression Scale (to exclude men with symptoms of depression in further analysis). Material: The test group consisted of men diagnosed with depressive disorders (F31 - in the phase of depression, F32 and F33) treated in the 2nd Department of Psychiatry of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology. The control group consisted of patients from randomly selected departments from four Warsaw hospitals. A total of 80 men were included into the pilot study, 40 in test group and 40 in control group. Ten men with symptoms of depression were excluded from the control group. Results: Assessment of physical health among responders was not significantly different between both groups. In test group over half of responders (55%, n = 22) declared weak mental health vs. only 7% (n = 2) in control group (p < .001). The level of nicotine and alcohol addiction was not significantly different between test and control group. Self-efficacy was significantly lower in test group, MD = -4.64, CI95 [-7.93; -1.35], p = .006. Satisfaction with life also had lower level in test group, MD = -4.87, CI95 [-8.02; -1.72], p = .003. No significant difference between both groups was confirmed for emotion control and its components. Conclusions: 1. Men with diagnosed depression assess their mental health lower than men without symptoms of this disorder; there is no difference in the case of physical health. 2. According to the present study, men with depression do not use alcohol and tobacco in a different way than men without this disorder; there are also no differences in their level of emotional control. 3. Men with depression have lower self-efficacy and satisfaction with life. 4. It is necessary to repeat this study on a larger sample of respondents, so that the results will be representative for the entire Polish male population.