Emotional problems and the use of psychotropic drugs: investigating racial inequality

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of racial inequalities in the prevalence of emotional problems, the search for healthcare services and the use of psychotropic drugs. A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with data from the 2014/15 Campinas Health Survey. Sample of 1953 individuals aged 20 years or older was analyzed. We estimated the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs), the reporting of emotional problems, insomnia, the search for and the use of healthcare services and the use of psychotropic drugs according to self-reported skin color (white and black/brown). Prevalence ratios were estimated using “Poisson” multiple regression. The prevalence of CMDs was higher among blacks/brown compared to whites but no difference was found regarding the reporting of emotional problems and insomnia. Whites sought healthcare services more due to emotional problems. The use of psychotropic drugs was also higher among whites. The results revealed racial inequalities in the presence of CMDs, the search for healthcare services and the use of psychotropics drugs, highlighting the need for actions to identify and overcome barriers that hinder access to mental health care by different racial segments of the population.