Diffuse Distress and Common Mental Disorders: A Bibliographic Review

Abstract

This paper addresses medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) such as body pains, uneasiness, headaches, nervousness, insomnia, all conditions difficult to classify both among the major psychiatric syndromes or within nosology. Such complaints frequently demand immediate attention, especially in primary care units. They are closely related to important psycho-social factors including social support networks and family relations, as well as labor and socioeconomic conditions experienced by those who use such services. The authors contend that the concept of common mental disorders (CMD), applied in psychiatric epidemiologic research, provides an important contribution to the understanding of this subject. Using the epidemiological concept of CMD as a search term, this study employed a non-exhaustive bibliographic review methodology of the LILACS database. Articles based on research carried out in Brazil were given precedence, including those published in English. Those articles that did not focus of CMD as their main subject, or that related them only to somatic disorders, were excluded. As a result, a main bibliography of thirteen articles was identified. Two of the articles do not directly deal with research based in Brazil, but refer to other countries with similar economics and comparable social conditions. The results suggest the following main areas of concern: the high prevalence of CMD in primary health units and in the community; the lack of specific professional training for health teams to deal with this kind of suffering not classified in their diagnostic manuals, and the absence of public policies and methodologies meant to specifically address this problem in the field of healthcare. Public discussion of this subject, as well as the formation of hospitable opportunities for health service users and professionals to speak and listen, are essential in order to provide adequate attention and care for those who demonstrate this kind of suffering.