Ansiedade, depressão e percepção de pacientes em tratamento em câmara hiperbárica

Abstract

Introduction: The use of the hyperbaric chamber is effective in helping the healing of skin lesions refractory to conventional treatments. Objective: to evaluate symptoms of anxiety and depression and patients’ perception about their treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. Method: cross-sectional, descriptive, quali-quantitative study, carried out with a convenience sample composed of patients who had already undergone at least one treatment session in a hyperbaric chamber. While in the waiting room, patients who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate and filled the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and answered open questions about the reason for treatment and their perception of it. Results: 23 patients aged between 18 and 80 years old participated, 17 were men and six were women and ten had not completed high school. Most showed improbability for anxiety (n = 15) and depression (n = 16). Perceptions about negative aspects of the treatment included stress, tiredness, difficulty entering and staying inside the chamber, anxiety related to the restricted space of the hyperbaric chamber. Conclusion: although most patients did not show significant signs of anxiety and depression, treatment in a hyperbaric chamber causes suffering that could be mitigated by positive environmental changes.