Help-seeking Behavior of Depressive Patients Presented with Somatic Complaints / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:to study help seeking behavior of depressive patients presented as somatic complaints.Method:62 patients with depression presented with somatic complaints in general hospital and 33 presented with depressive mood in psychiatric clinics were collected. All subjects received assessment with HAMA, HAMD and a research interview.Result:depressive patients in general hospital mainly complained as poor appetite (68%), difficult in falling in sleep (66%), chest discomfort (58%), palpitation (55%), and fatigue (45%). They were different significantly to depressive patients to psychiatric clinics in level of education, help seeking behavior, illness attribution. 55 of them complained loss half of their work capacity.Conclusion:depressive patients presented as somatic complaints in general hospital consist a separate subgroup with depressive disorders.