Minor psychiatric disorder in primary care in Brazil: a pilot study

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) were translated into Portuguese and were used in a pilot study of psychiatric morbidity in primary care at 'The Health Centre Barra Funda/Bom Retiro' of the Faculty of Medicine of Santa Casa Hospital at Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Portuguese translation of the CIS was found to be a feasible instrument for community studies in Brazil, but the Portuguese translation of the GHQ-30 was shown to be of limited use in this particular setting. The extent of minor psychiatric morbidity was very high (46%); 33% was regarded as conspicuous (CPM) and 13% as hidden (HPM).