Depression with Somatic Symptoms in Patients Attending Psychiatry OPD of Nepalgunj Medical College

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Background: Depression is the most common mental health problem but its presentation may not be the same all the time. Presentation of depression in the form of somatic symptoms makes it difficult to identify by untrained eyes which needs detailed investigations before labeling them as having a psychiatric problems. Methods: This is a descriptive study done in patients attending psychiatry OPD of Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur, for six months from the month of May to October 2014. Results: Out of the 240 study subjects, the most common age group is 21-30 years, 90(37.5%), followed by 11-20 years, 50(20.83%). Among the physical symptoms, Generalized weakness 145(29.84%), loss of appetite 106(21.81%), vague pain (joint/abdomen) 84(17.28%), headache 80(16.46%), burning and tingling sensation 71(14.61%). Conclusions: Depression is a common psychiatric entity but may present in the form of physical symptoms. The commonest being generalized weakness 145(29.84%), followed by loss of appetite 106(21.81%).

Screening of Depression Among Medical Outpatients Visiting the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Rwanda

“…5 Patients with depression may consult general healthcare services due to somatic expression of their disease including generalized weakness, headache, joint pain, burning and tingling sensations, crawling sensations, and vague pain. 6 The affected persons will more likely consult neurologists, gastroenterologists, or cardiologists and in case of a nontrained eye, the patient may be misdiagnosed. The common somatic complaints may include headache, dizziness, palpitation, weakness, abdominal discomfort, burning, and tingling sensations, and vague pain.…”

“…The common somatic complaints may include headache, dizziness, palpitation, weakness, abdominal discomfort, burning, and tingling sensations, and vague pain. [6][7][8][9] The consequences of depression include high medical expenses, [10][11][12] dissatisfaction with healthcare services, deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship, increased level of disability, negative impact on society in general and on the patient's family and prognosis, and particularly on individual's chronic suffering. 13,14 Furthermore, depression may complicate the situation of cooccurring disease conditions; especially chronic medical diseases among older adults, 15 and it is an often unrecognized comorbidity in patients consulting non-mental health care focused health facilities.…”