The distinctive symptomatology of mental health illness in economic “crisis-related†patients: a preliminary study

Abstract

Background. Help requests for psychological disorders due specifically to the impact of the economic crisis have been constantly increased. The aim of the study is the identification of a distinctive symptomatology between subjects affected by “crisis-related†mental health illness and people who refer to the same Mental Health Care Center. Methods. An observational research design was used. Patients (n=70) related to the “Crisis and Psychopathology Observatoryâ€â€“Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan–were tested with: Beck Anxiety Inventory (Alpha=.86), Beck Depression Inventory II (Alpha=.85), Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (Alpha=.87) and Derogatis’ Brief Symptom Checklist (Alpha=.96). Findings. MANCOVA was used to test differences–controlling for diagnosis and the elapsed time between the onset of symptoms and the psychiatric visit. Results suggest that “crisis-related†patients show: higher anxiety [F(1,68)=6.07; p=.02] and higher depression [F(1,69)=8.23; p=.012]; higher number of psychological symptoms [F(1,69)=12.34; p<.001]; but an equivalent self-esteem [F(1,69)=1.94; p=.069];. Discussion. Results points out that “crisis-related†patients showed a wider mental health illness’ symptomatology and important index as regards the acuteness; and also suggest a possible way in order to treat this new kind of suffering.