The Sick Role

IntroductionQuaternary prevention, concept coined by the Belgian Marc Jamoulle, are the actions taken to avoid or mitigate the consequences of unnecessary or excessive intervention of the health system. The concept alludes to actions to avoid the over-diagnoses and over-treatment, trying to reduce the incidence of iatrogeny in patients, which is a serious public health problem and even more in mental health.MethodsSystematic review of bibliography.ObjectivesDo a systematic review of bibliography and through the results invite to the analytic and critic reflection of our professional activities and the current situation of mental health.ResultsThere is not enough studies about quaternary prevention in mental health.–Some studies found that about one-third of diseases of a hospital are iatrogenic, most of them for pharmacological causes.–There is iatrogeny at different levels of the attention of mental health: primary prevention, diagnosis and treatment.–Non-treatment indication avoids in multiple cases iatrogenesis and contributes to the correct distribution of the economic and care resources.ConclusionsSince one of the fundaments of medicine is “primun non nocere” that means “first do no harm” and one of principles of bioethics is “non-maleficence”, quaternary prevention should prevail over any other preventive or curative option.–We should define in a more realistic way the limits, benefits and damages of our interventions in order to not promote a passive and sick role.–Must be recognized the non-treatment intervention as a therapeutic and useful intervention, and one of the best tools of quaternary prevention.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

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La sociologia della malattia in Achille Ardigň e nei classici della sociologia della salute

SALUTE E SOCIETÀ ◽

10.3280/ses2009-su2003 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 57-73

Author(s):

Antonio Maturo

Keyword(s):

Social Integration ◽

Social Stratification ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Sick Role ◽

Founding Father ◽

Health And Illness ◽

Weak Points ◽

Sociology Of Health ◽

Father Role

- This charter describes the main theoretical sources used by Achille Ardigň to develop his theory of sociology of health and illness. The influence of Durkheim might be found in the interest Ardigň has for the nexus between social integration and health. Ardigň recognizes the founding father' role of Parsons in the sociology of health, yet he criticizes Parsons because he is too much concerned with the systemic integration and because he doesn't pay attention on empathy. Moreover, the theory of the sick role is tailored on people suffering only for acute diseases - today, more importance should be given to chronic conditions. Some answers to the weak points of Parsons and Durkheim theories are found in phenomenology and its concepts (empathy, Lebenswelt, Körper). In order to avoid to become too much subjectivist, Ardigň integrates, in his sociology, but only partially, the views of the conflictualistic approaches on illness and social stratification. My final proposal is to consider Achille Ardigň as a very eclectic scholar.Keywords: Ardigň, sociology of health, empathy, Parsons, Durkheim, Illich.Parole chiave: Ardigň, sociologia della salute, empatia, Parsons, Durkheim, Illich.

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