Abstract:
My research aims to provide empirical evidence to address anxiety and depressive disorders,specifically reviewing missed cases due to somatization in order to improve diagnoses and treatment strategies. We propose examining how psychological disorders are manifested through unsaid language by patients visiting the hospital for physical ailments in Pakistan. The study aims to highlight the importance of considering cultural factors in understanding and diagnosing mental disorders, as cultural norms and experiences shape patients` narratives and perceptions. Informed consent from adult patients visiting the Medicine OPD at Services Hospital will be obtained. The recording of doctor patient conversations will be done (which will be stored securely), after which the symptoms mentioned by them will be cross-checked and correlated with the scores on anxiety and depression questionnaires such as GAD7 and PHQ9 along with the doctors` prescriptions and diagnosis notes to validate the psychological symptoms underlying physiological conditions. Furthermore, a vocabulary glossary will be created after analysis of the conversations to obtain an insight into the language used by patients to describe their psychological distress under the guise of physiological distress. The literature review revealed the scarcity of research on the prevalence, presentation, and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in South Asia, including Pakistan. Existing studies reveal high prevalence rates of these disorders in the community population, particularly among women. The study aims to contribute to the existing literature on anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan, addressing the missed cases resulting from somatization and language barriers in healthcare settings. The project is currently underway and in the process of data collection. Once we get the information, an analysis will be done.
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Journal: Abstract Book on 9th Annual Neuroscience Conference (ANC-23) August 12-13, 2023 , Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023