Abstract
Depression is highly prevalent and the cause of considerable suffering for peoples across the globe. Case finding for depression is challenging because individuals often do not recognize the symptoms in themselves or may resist the diagnosis as a result of cultural stigma. Screening instruments, to be accurate, must be valid in the particular setting in which they are being applied, and diagnosis in primary care settings, is further made challenging because patients often present with a wide variety of somatic symptoms that could be medical. 115 women were screened for depression in this study in one community in Uganda, and 87 were found to be depressed using the SRQ-20. The cognitive impairment and decreased energy sub-scales of the SRQ-20 seemed to best differentiate for depression. We then interviewed the 87 women and found that, overwhelmingly, their complaints were somatic, and that their expectation for treatment was to receive medical tests and medications. Caregivers in primary care clinics in Uganda should know that in the reporting of their somatic symptoms patients may be trying to communicate more about themselves than just the state of their physical health; and that feelings of uselessness or of hopelessness when expressed by a patient should lead them to suspect severe mental illness since these symptoms were not found to be characteristic of the milder depression that is highly prevalent in Ugandan women.
Highlights
To be accurate, must be valid in the particular setting in which they are being applied, and diagnosis in primary care settings, is further made challenging because patients often present with a wide variety of somatic symptoms that could be medical. 115 women were screened for depression in this study in one community in Uganda, and 87 were found to be depressed using the SRQ-20
This paper describes an exploratory study of depression in Ugandan women in the community and in primary care clinics focusing on how their symptoms can best be assessed by caregivers
Patients whose somatic symptoms are nonpathological need to be sorted out by caregivers from patients whose symptoms are signals of mental illness. This line of inquiry is needed because caregivers in primary care clinics in Uganda have indicated that they are struggling with these issues and want better guidance (Kigozi et al 2016:s42)
Summary
This paper describes an exploratory study of depression in Ugandan women in the community and in primary care clinics focusing on how their symptoms can best be assessed by caregivers. This is important because similar sounding somatic symptoms can as be brought on by chronic stress or depression as by untreated medical illness. Patients whose somatic symptoms are nonpathological need to be sorted out by caregivers from patients whose symptoms are signals of mental illness This line of inquiry is needed because caregivers in primary care clinics in Uganda have indicated that they are struggling with these issues and want better guidance (Kigozi et al 2016:s42)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
