Publication: Common Mental Disorders
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Date
2011
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Common mental disorders are a group of distress states manifesting with anxiety,
depressive and unexplained somatic symptoms typically encountered in community
and primary care settings. Risk factors for these disorders are mainly lower socio-
economic status, psychological illnesses, poor reproductive health, gender
disadvantage and physical ill-health. WHO has recommended that treatment of all
these disorders should be based in primary care to be more effective and accessible
to all the community people. The structure of mental health care in primary care is
generally understood in terms of the “pathways to care” model and it plays a major
role in countries like ours where community-based mental health services do not
exist. Both the psychological and pharmacological therapies are found to be equally
effective for treating these disorders. Integration of mental health into primary care
can be considered as the stepping stone in the way forward to tackle the barriers and
problems in effective management of common mental disorders in the community.
The acute shortage of mental health professionals and the relatively low levels of
awareness about mental disorders make it mandatory that primary health care
should remain the single largest sector for mental health care in low and middle
income countries like ours.
KEY WORDS
anxiety, depression, mental disorders
Description
A Risal
Department of Psychiatry Dhulikhel Hospital - Kathmandu University Hospital Dhulikhel, Nepal