Good morning, everyone. I'm Camila Mancuso, and I'm pleased to present our study titled Mental Health Illnesses and Somatic Symptoms in English and Spanish-Speaking Primary Care Patients, a Holistic Perspective. Today, we'll dive into the relationship between mental health illness screening scores and somatic symptoms among English and Spanish-speaking primary care patients, an area that's vital for understanding how we can improve patient care in diverse populations. In the US, one of five adults is managing a mental health illness, conditions like depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. These issues often don't occur in isolation. They frequently accompany physical health problems, creating a complex challenge for patients and healthcare providers alike. For Spanish-speaking patients, the hurdles are even greater due to cultural, systemic, and linguistics barrier. Despite this, there is a noticeable gap in research focused on how mental and physical symptoms intersect in these populations, particularly when comparing English and Spanish speakers. Our study addresses this gap by examining the connection between mental health screening scores and somatic symptoms in both groups. We set out to answer a crucial question. Are mental health illness symptoms associated with somatic symptoms among Spanish and English-speaking primary care patients? To explore this question, we conducted a study with 65 adult primary care patients who were, on average, 41 years old. The sample was predominantly female, and the participants completed the survey either in English, 60% of them, and Spanish, 40% of them. Data collection took place through self-reported phone surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring safety while gathering vital information. Our study was approved by the IRB Irving Medical Center. We used several validated screening tools to assess different mental health conditions, including PCPTSD-5 for PTSD symptoms, JD-7 for anxiety, PHQ-9 for depression, PHQ-13 for somatic symptoms, and PHQ-PD for panic disorder. These tools helped us gather comprehensive data on the participants' mental and physical health. So now we can talk about the results. Here's what we found. Spanish and English-speaking participants didn't differ significantly in terms of demographic variables, which allowed us to focus on their mental and physical health outcomes. For the total sample, there was a significant positive correlation between all mental health screener scores and somatic symptoms. This means that higher mental health screening scores were consistently linked to more severe physical symptoms. Additionally, all mental health screener scores were significantly correlated with each other, with the exception of PTSD and panic disorder. Looking more closely at the English-speaking participants, we saw positive correlations between all mental health screening scores and somatic symptoms, except for PTSD and somatic symptoms. Interestingly, while most mental health screener scores were significantly correlated with each other, there were some exceptions. Panic disorder did not correlate significantly with depression or PTSD. In the Spanish-speaking group, a similar pattern emerged. We found positive correlations between all mental health screener scores and somatic symptoms, except for PTSD and somatic symptoms. Additionally, while most mental health screener scores correlated with each other, there were some exceptions. Specifically, panic disorder did not relate with depression or PTSD. These results highlight the critical link between mental and physical health in primary care. It's clear that addressing both aspects is essential, especially in underserved populations like Spanish-speaking patients who may face unique barriers in accessing mental health care. These cultural nuances we observed, such as a difference correlation involving PTSD and panic disorder in Spanish-speaking patients, suggest that mental health care must be tailored to meet the needs of diverse patient populations. While our study faced some limitations, such as the small sample size and the challenges of recruiting during a pandemic, it is nonetheless providing valuable insights. Our findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive mental health interventions that can effectively address the intertwined nature of mental and physical health. Thank you so much for your attention. We are the authors Camila Mancuso and Dr. Natalia Pilipenko, and we're happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you so much for your attention.

mental health

somatic symptoms

Spanish-speaking patients

culturally sensitive interventions

primary care