Psychotropic Use Among Classroom Teachers in Espírito Santo: A Cross‐Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study found that one in five teachers in Brazil use psychotropic medications, with higher use among women and those with depressive symptoms.

Contribution

The study provides novel evidence on psychotropic medication use among classroom teachers in Brazil, an underrepresented group in global mental health research.

Findings

20% of teachers used psychotropic medications, with higher prevalence among cisgender women and those with depressive symptoms.

Antidepressant use was 16.9%, also higher among cisgender women and those with depressive symptoms.

Teachers in rural areas like Santa Teresa had lower antidepressant use compared to those in the state capital.

Abstract

To assess the prevalence of psychotropic use among classroom teachers and to identify associated factors.

A cross‐sectional study was conducted between January and February 2024 in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The study included teachers from 20 state schools selected through probabilistic sampling. Data were collected in person using a self‐administered questionnaire that addressed sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, mental health history, mental health screening scales, and the use of psychotropic medications. Poisson regression with robust variance was employed to estimate the prevalence ratio of psychotropic and antidepressant use. The study was approved by the research ethics committee.

The study included 453 teachers. The prevalence of psychotropic medication use was 20.0% (95% CI: 16.9%–22.9%), while the prevalence of antidepressant use was 16.9% (95% CI: 13.8%–19.8%). In the multivariate analysis, a higher prevalence of psychotropic use was observed among cisgender women (PR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.07–3.39) and teachers with depressive symptoms (PR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.26–4.22). Antidepressant use was also more frequent among cisgender women (PR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.12–3.85) and those with depressive symptoms (PR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.05–3.82), while teachers working in schools located in Santa Teresa showed a lower prevalence compared to those in Vitória (PR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.10–0.90).

The findings indicate a considerable prevalence of psychotropic and antidepressant use among teachers, particularly among cisgender women and those presenting depressive symptoms.

This study provides novel evidence on the prevalence of psychotropic medication use among classroom teachers in Brazil, a population underrepresented in international literature.One in five teachers reported psychotropic medication use, highlighting a substantial mental health treatment burden in this occupational group.Psychotropic and antidepressant use was significantly higher among cisgender women compared to cisgender men, and among teachers with depressive symptoms compared to those without such symptoms.Teachers working in rural municipalities, such as Santa Teresa, reported lower antidepressant use compared to those in the state capital, suggesting contextual disparities in access or prescription patterns.

This study provides novel evidence on the prevalence of psychotropic medication use among classroom teachers in Brazil, a population underrepresented in international literature.

One in five teachers reported psychotropic medication use, highlighting a substantial mental health treatment burden in this occupational group.

Psychotropic and antidepressant use was significantly higher among cisgender women compared to cisgender men, and among teachers with depressive symptoms compared to those without such symptoms.

Teachers working in rural municipalities, such as Santa Teresa, reported lower antidepressant use compared to those in the state capital, suggesting contextual disparities in access or prescription patterns.

This study looked at how many school teachers use medications for mental health, such as antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs, and what factors are linked to this use. Between January and February 2024, we surveyed 453 teachers from 20 public schools in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Teachers answered questions about their personal and work characteristics, mental health, and use of medications. We found that one in five teachers reported using a psychotropic medication, and about one in six used antidepressants. Women and teachers who showed symptoms of depression were more likely to use these medications. Teachers working in smaller towns, such as Santa Teresa, were less likely to use antidepressants than those in the state capital, Vitória. These findings show that mental health problems and the use of related medications are common among teachers. The results highlight the need for better support for teachers' mental health and fair access to care across different regions.