Psychologist yes, but psychiatrist already feared

When a smile hides deep pain. Depression is becoming a serious disease of civilization

February 23 marks World Depression Day. On this day, the goal is to raise awareness of mental disorders in society, promoting knowledge of the symptoms of the disease, appropriate responses and possible therapies. From the point of view of the Regional Medical Chamber of Szczecin, we see that the topic is very serious. - On the one hand, it is gratifying to see that some social taboo is being lifted from mental illnesses, but on the other hand, there are still many problems related to the diagnosis and hospitalization of sick people," admits Michal Bulsa, president of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin.

Sick leave for psychiatric ailments on the rise

The severity of the situation is evidenced by recent statistics from the Social Insurance Institution. The number of sick leaves issued in 2023 in Zachodniopomorskie due to mental and behavioral disorders amounted to almost 63 thousand, compared to 56.4 thousand in 2022. In the whole of Poland, this number exceeded 1.2 million sick leaves. We can only surmise that a significant portion of these layoffs are due to depression and depression-related ailments.

- Mood disorders may not always be noticed at first glance. Often people who are seemingly cheerful may in fact exhibit symptoms of depression. Many times a longer, warm conversation, honest questions and open answers are needed to spot the problem. What's more, the disease picture of mood and anxiety disorders can run only with a lowered mood and anxiety correctly defined by the patient. It is often observed that people affected by anxiety disorders take a long time to seek help due to experiencing non-specific, non-specific somatic complaints, such as abdominal pains, chest pains, for example," says lek. Aleksander Matysiak, a resident physician and secretary of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin.

"Hollywood psychiatry" creates fear in patients? To the psychologist we go, but the psychiatrist we fear

Of course, always experiencing somatic complaints - especially from the cardiovascular or gastrointestinal systems - requires urgent, extensive diagnostics and tests, but if a cause from the systems involved is ruled out, it is worth allowing for the possibility of another reason for the symptoms, which often strongly impede life.

- Here, unfortunately, problems arise. The first problem is "Hollywood psychiatry," or the vision of psychiatry developed by the film industry. Often our first association about a psychiatrist's office that comes to mind is the vision of the film "A Beautiful Mind" or, even worse, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." These films, leaving aside their artistic value - unfortunately, they completely fail to reflect the realities of modern treatment, creating a very unpleasant and unfair image of psychiatry in society. And yet the first visit is usually a constructive, empathetic, personal conversation. The second problem, unfortunately, is related to the first problem. A person who has a disturbed self-image and self-esteem due to a depressed mood, and on top of that a negative perception in certain social circles can cause resentment and denial. Unfortunately, often even after clear suggestions from PCPs, there is a reversal and a repeat of the diagnostic path with other doctors, concealing previous results," says Dr. Alexander Matysiak.

Recently, there has been an upward trend in sickness absences due to mental disorders.

- Unfortunately, given the increasing pace of life, an increase in these values awaits us, and the defense is the wide availability of psychiatric and psychological care and the awareness of doctors, including family doctors, the expert adds.

It is important that we take care of our well-being on a daily basis, e.g. by lowering our stress levels, getting better sleep, eating better and taking care of our comfort every day.

Source: OIL in Szczecin