[The association between common mental disorders and subjective health conditions among the elderly]

Social distancing, emotional suffering, and cognitive performance in mature and older adults: a literature review

Variables related to social distancing can have negative effects on the emotional well-being and cognition of adults and the elderly.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze the available studies that address the relationship between situations of social distancing, socioemotional aspects, and cognition in the lives of mature and older adults.

Methods

A literature review study was carried out between December 2021 and January 2022, involving the SciELO, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases, with studies published between February 2018 and December 2021.

Results

A total of 754 studies were identified, and after selection, 18 were included. Notably, 16 showed significant effects of social distancing on cognition and socioemotional aspects, that is, the greater the social distancing, the lower the capacity for cognitive performance and the higher the index of symptoms of depression and anxiety, for example.

Conclusions

Greater engagement in social activities and a closer contact with friends and family are protective factors against symptoms of depression and anxiety and cognitive decline.

Mental Health Studies published in the last 25 years in the Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva

A systematic review of the 25-year Mental Health production of Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva was performed to identify whether this production had changed over time. We investigated whether these changes would have any relationship with the implementation of a new regulatory and legal framework for this field and the expansion of public services and the promotion of public funding agencies' investigation on the subject. A total of 278 original papers were analyzed from the following categories: sociocultural transformations related to madness and its approach; legislative changes; implantation, coverage range and operation of the network of substitute services; clinic/care developed in substitute services; the role and possibilities of primary care; drug use-related problems; mental health of children and adolescents; epidemiological studies/psychiatric categories; and others - which included ethnic-racial issues, violence, about the elderly population, suicide, bullying, and migration. A chronological relationship can be observed between the increase in publications and research notices and the expansion of services, not seemingly in the same way concerning care for people with alcohol and other drug problems.