scholarly journals Do Patients with Somatoform Disorders Present with Illusory Mental Health?

Author(s):  
Jaco Wineke Elisabeth Eurelings ◽  
Bontekoe Annemiek Van Dijke ◽  
Franny Moene Arthur Van Gool
10.2196/16228 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. e16228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shireen Patel ◽  
Athfah Akhtar ◽  
Sam Malins ◽  
Nicola Wright ◽  
Emma Rowley ◽  
...  

Background The prevalence of mental health disorders continues to rise, with almost 4% of the world population having an anxiety disorder and almost 3.5% having depression in 2017. Despite the high prevalence, only one-third of people with depression or anxiety receive treatment. Over the last decade, the use of digital health interventions (DHIs) has risen rapidly as a means of accessing mental health care and continues to increase. Although there is evidence supporting the effectiveness of DHIs for the treatment of mental health conditions, little is known about what aspects are valued by users and how they might be improved. Objective This systematic review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize the qualitative literature available on service users’ views and experiences regarding the acceptability and usability of DHIs for depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders. Methods A systematic search strategy was developed, and searches were run in 7 electronic databases. Qualitative and mixed methods studies published in English were included. A meta-synthesis was used to interpret and synthesize the findings from the included studies. Results A total of 24 studies were included in the meta-synthesis, and 3 key themes emerged with descriptive subthemes. The 3 key themes were initial motivations and approaches to DHIs, personalization of treatment, and the value of receiving personal support in DHIs. The meta-synthesis suggests that participants’ initial beliefs about DHIs can have an important effect on their engagement with these types of interventions. Personal support was valued very highly as a major component of the success of DHIs. The main reason for this was the way it enabled individual personalization of care. Conclusions Findings from the systematic review have implications for the design of future DHIs to improve uptake, retention, and outcomes in DHIs for depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders. DHIs need to be personalized to the specific needs of the individual. Future research should explore whether the findings could be generalized to other health conditions.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shireen Patel ◽  
Athfah Akhtar ◽  
Sam Malins ◽  
Nicola Wright ◽  
Emma Rowley ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The prevalence of mental health disorders continues to rise, with almost 4% of the world population having an anxiety disorder and almost 3.5% having depression in 2017. Despite the high prevalence, only one-third of people with depression or anxiety receive treatment. Over the last decade, the use of digital health interventions (DHIs) has risen rapidly as a means of accessing mental health care and continues to increase. Although there is evidence supporting the effectiveness of DHIs for the treatment of mental health conditions, little is known about what aspects are valued by users and how they might be improved. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize the qualitative literature available on service users’ views and experiences regarding the acceptability and usability of DHIs for depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders. METHODS A systematic search strategy was developed, and searches were run in 7 electronic databases. Qualitative and mixed methods studies published in English were included. A meta-synthesis was used to interpret and synthesize the findings from the included studies. RESULTS A total of 24 studies were included in the meta-synthesis, and 3 key themes emerged with descriptive subthemes. The 3 key themes were initial motivations and approaches to DHIs, personalization of treatment, and the value of receiving personal support in DHIs. The meta-synthesis suggests that participants’ initial beliefs about DHIs can have an important effect on their engagement with these types of interventions. Personal support was valued very highly as a major component of the success of DHIs. The main reason for this was the way it enabled individual personalization of care. CONCLUSIONS Findings from the systematic review have implications for the design of future DHIs to improve uptake, retention, and outcomes in DHIs for depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders. DHIs need to be personalized to the specific needs of the individual. Future research should explore whether the findings could be generalized to other health conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 166 (6) ◽  
pp. 382-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
H J Sawford ◽  
M B Smith

IntroductionThis paper presents the burden of mental health cases throughout UK military exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 (SS3), a low-tempo armoured brigade exercise in Oman from June to November 2018, and aims to discuss ways that mental health may be better managed on future large exercises.MethodsA retrospective review of all attendances at army medical facilities and relevant computerised medical records was undertaken.Results14 mental health cases were identified, which required 51 follow-up presentations throughout the duration of SS3. This represented 1.2% of all first patient presentations, and 6.3% of all follow-up work. 64% had diagnoses which predated deployment and could all be classified within 10th revision of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems as either F30–F39 mood (affective) disorders, or F40–F48 neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders; all new diagnoses made while deployed were adjustment disorders. The medical officer spent an average of 147 min total clinical care time per patient. Six patients were aeromedically evacuated (AE), which represented 26% of all AE cases from SS3.ConclusionsPresentations were low, but time consuming and with poor disposal outcomes. Most conditions predated the exercise, and could have been predicted to worsen through the deployment. Given the disproportionate burden that mental health cases afforded during SS3, future brigade-sized deployments should include deployed mental health professionals in order to offer evidence-based therapy which should lead to improved disposal outcomes and a reduced AE burden.


2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme C. Smith

Objective: To review the status of consultation–liaison psychiatry and the factors shaping it, and suggest strategies for its future development. Method: In addition to searches of the main computerized psychiatric databases and review of relevant Commonwealth of Australia publications, the author drew on discussions with national and international colleagues in his role as convenor of the International Organization for Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry. Results: Physical/psychiatric comorbidity and somatization, the conditions in which consultation–liaison psychiatry specializes, are the commonest forms of psychiatric presentation in the community. They are as disabling as psychotic disorders, and comorbid depression in particular is a predictor of increased morbidity and mortality. Acknowledging this, the Second Australian National Mental Health Plan called for consultation–liaison psychiatry to be allowed to participate fully in the mental health care system. It stated that failure to define the term ‘severe mental health problems and mental disorders’ in the First Plan had led to some public mental health systems erroneously equating severity with diagnosis rather than level of need and disability. The call has been largely unheeded. The implication for patient care is both direct and indirect; the context created for psychiatry training by such a restricted focus is helping to perpetuate the neglect of such patients. This is a worldwide problem. Conclusions: Proactive involvement with consumers is required if the problem is to be redressed. At a service level, development of a seamless web of pre-admission/admission/post-discharge functions is required if patients with physical/psychiatric comorbidity and somatoform disorders are to receive effective care, and consultation–liaison psychiatry services are to be able to demonstrate efficacy. Focus on comorbidity in the Australian Third National Mental Health Plan may force resolution of the current problems.


2003 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 635-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Shedler ◽  
Rachel Karliner ◽  
Ellen Katz

Author(s):  
Olga Yurtsenyuk

Health status of students at higher educational institutions draws attention of specialists in different fields of medicine. Comparison of mental health of different population groups determined that this issue is especially urgent concerning students. Objective of the study was investigation of peculiarities of nonpsychotic mental disorders (NPMD) among students depending on the specialty they learn, the year of studies, and sex. In the period from 2015 to 2017 a comprehensive examination including 1235 students was conducted keeping to the principles of bioethics and deontology. The following methods were applied: clinical, clinical-psychopathologic, clinical-epidemiologic, clinical-anamnestic, experimental-psychological and statistical. The study resulted in the following findings: 317 students out of 1235 of all the examined individuals were diagnosed with NPMD (25.67 %). In a gender aspect NPMD was found among 97 (30.60 %) males and 220 (69.40 %) females. The highest susceptibility to the development of NPMD was found among students on specialties “Pediatrics” and “Medical Psychology” — 48.48 %, and the lowest one — among the students of philosophic-theological faculty — 9.68 %. Firstyear and fifth-year students appeared to be the most susceptible to the development of NPMD. The results obtained should be considered in programming the system of preventive measures in order to timely find and treat the above disorders. Key words: nonpsychotic mental disorders, students, specialties of study, neurotic stress-related and somatoform disorders


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Andrey Soloviev ◽  
Elena Ichitovkina ◽  
Andrey Soloviev

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to analyze the structure of mental disorders and social adaptation in retired ex-combatants of the security forces. Methods: 111 retired men, ex-combatants who sought medical care, were examined. There are two groups: I: 56 people with identified mental disorders; II: 55 with pre-nosological mental health disorders. Results: It is shown that the state of mental health of retired ex-combatants is characterized by severe polymorphic mental disorders, especially those expressed in group I (organic, behavioural disorders, substance use, schizophrenia, schizotypic and delusional disorders, affective, neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders, personality and behaviour disorders in adulthood), as well as social maladaptation, associated with the transformation of values, lifestyle and communication, the emergence of difficulties in social and everyday life, the breakdown of social ties and the displacement of pensioners from public life. Conclusion: The article substantiates the need for a comprehensive approach to the rehabilitation of retired ex-combatants with the interaction of all government structures, public associations, medical, psychological and social institutions directly related to the development and implementation of individual rehabilitation routes.


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