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'Nerves': folk idiom for anxiety and depression?
M K Nations1, L A Camino, F B Walker
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1988
Summary
The folk ailment "nerves" is a common idiom for emotional distress, often linked to anxiety and depression in primary care settings. Patients reporting "nerves" experience more life stress and somatic symptoms than controls.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Medical Anthropology
- Primary Care Medicine
Background:
- The term 'nerves' is frequently used in primary care as a lay idiom for emotional distress.
- Understanding the cultural context and clinical presentation of 'nerves' is crucial for effective patient care.
Observation:
- A study of 149 patients (47 with 'nerves', 102 controls) in a Virginia clinic revealed significant differences.
- Patients with 'nerves' reported higher levels of anxiety and depression, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
- The 'nerves' group also experienced more recent life stressors, indicated by the Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale.
Findings:
- 'Nerves' patients exhibited elevated GHQ scores (13.0 vs. 5.8) and BDI scores (7.6 vs. 2.5), both statistically significant (P < 0.0001).
- Higher scores on the Holmes-Rahe scale (187.1 vs. 119.3, P < 0.05) suggest a greater burden of life stress among those with 'nerves'.
- Common somatic symptoms included gastrointestinal issues, headaches, and shaking; the condition was more prevalent in women and housewives, often linked to misfortune.
Implications:
- 'Nerves' represents a culturally significant ethnomedical illness often overlooked in conventional medical settings.
- Physicians should consider 'nerves' as a valid expression of emotional distress, anxiety, and depression.
- Collaboration between physicians and alternative healers is recommended for improved recognition and treatment of 'nerves'.
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