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Common mental disorders among populations assisted by Primary Health Care in Brazil: an integrative review

Abstract

Backround

Patients attending Primary Health Care in Brazil frequently report diffuse complaints indicating mental suffering. However, it’s common that they do not find adequate treatment due to the difficulty of health agents recognizing and dealing with the dimensions of suffering that are not classified in psychiatric nosography.

Objective

The objective of the present study was to make an integrative review of Common Mental Disorders in populations registered and monitored by Primary Health Care services in Brazil.

Method

Search of articles published in the BVS, Scielo, PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases from 1997 to 2018.

Results

The reviewed publications showed a prevalence of Common Mental Disorders ranging from 20.5% to 64% in populations attending primary health care services. All the studies showed an association between the Common Mental Disorders and situations of psychosocial vulnerability. The main associated factors were: being a woman, having a low income, and having a lower level of education.

Conclusion

The studies point out the importance of investing in public policies to reduce social inequalities. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of investing in strategies for the prevention and care of Common Mental Disorders among populations attending primary health care in Brazil.

Keywords:
common mental disorders; Primary Health Care; integrative review

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