A study of the symptom patterns of psychiatric referrals in a tropical diseases unit

Undoubtedly the commonest psychiatric conditions seen in patients from the tropics are reactive depression and hysterical illness. These may both be seen as responses to stress, often over a prolonged period. Although typical depressive and hysterical syndromes are seen in all races, severe tiredness seems to be the principal hysterical symptom amongst Europeans as opposed to bizarre somatic symptoms in Negroes and Asians. Headaches are an important depressive sign in Negroes and Asians. Diarrhoea and abdominal pains may be linked directly to anxiety and depression or may emerge as an unconscious defence against insoluble problems.