The Impact of Mental Factor as an Indicator of the Population State of Health

Abstract

In the framework of biopsychosocial model of health and pathology that is nowadays widely recognized in the different fields of modern medicine the mind, building the core of personality and the brain as the central regulatory organ play an essential role in the interdisciplinary approach to somatic illnesses. It is a common knowledge that comorbid anxiety and depression disorders can influence the course of various somatic illnesses and worsen their prognosis. We also have evidence-based studies that depression for example is an independent risk factor of heart infarct onset. On the other hand, we observe the somatization of clinical picture of mental disorders, the increase of atypical forms manifesting through pain or other somatic syndromes that leads to the increase of mental illnesses in the primary care. The research of common pathways of mental and somatic pathology should be the subject of further interdisciplinary research programs. The other issue is the patient's compliance that plays in important role in the success of every kind of treatment. Personality traits and status of mental health can influence ones attitude to illness as well as motivation to therapy. We cannot assess the population state of health without taking into consideration the evaluation of mental status as well as such definitions like subjective well being, life quality and stigmatization.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.