BACKGROUND: Unexplained fatigue has been extensively studied but most of the samples used were from Western countries. AIMS: To present international data on the prevalence of unexplained fatigue and fatigue as a presenting complaint in primary care. Method Secondary analysis of the World Health Organization study of psychological problems in general health care. A total of 5438 primary care attenders from 14 countries were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The prevalence of unexplained fatigue of 1-month duration differed across centres, with a range between 2.26 (95% CI 1.17-4.33) and 15.05 (95% CI 10.85-20.49). Subjects from more-developed countries were more likely to report unexplained fatigue but less likely to present with fatigue to physicians compared with subjects from less developed countries. CONCLUSIONS: In less-developed countries fatigue might be an indicator of unmet psychiatric need, but in more-developed countries it is probably a symbol of psychosocial distress.
BACKGROUND: Unexplained fatigue has been extensively studied but most of the samples used were from Western countries. AIMS: To present international data on the prevalence of unexplained fatigue and fatigue as a presenting complaint in primary care. Method Secondary analysis of the World Health Organization study of psychological problems in general health care. A total of 5438 primary care attenders from 14 countries were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The prevalence of unexplained fatigue of 1-month duration differed across centres, with a range between 2.26 (95% CI 1.17-4.33) and 15.05 (95% CI 10.85-20.49). Subjects from more-developed countries were more likely to report unexplained fatigue but less likely to present with fatigue to physicians compared with subjects from less developed countries. CONCLUSIONS: In less-developed countries fatigue might be an indicator of unmet psychiatric need, but in more-developed countries it is probably a symbol of psychosocial distress.
Authors: Caroline Smartt; Girmay Medhin; Atalay Alem; Vikram Patel; Michael Dewey; Martin Prince; Charlotte Hanlon Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2016-01-25 Impact factor: 2.622
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Authors: V P Paralikar; M M Agashe; S B Sarmukaddam; H N Dabholkar; D Gosoniu; M G Weiss Journal: Indian J Psychiatry Date: 2008-04 Impact factor: 1.759
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