Biomedicina

135

Vague and diffuse symptoms in biomedicine: a review of the literature

Carla Ribeiro Guedes 1
Maria Inês Nogueira 1
Kenneth Rochel de Camargo Jr. 1

1

Instituto de Medicina
Social, UERJ. Rua São
Francisco Xavier 524
Pavilhão João Lyra Filho, 7o andar, blocos D e E,
Maracanã. 20550-900 Rio de Janeiro RJ. [e-mail] Abstract The purpose of this study is to chart academic output on vague and diffuse symptoms in biomedicine. As methodological tool, we conducted a bibliographic study through the Internet ranging from 1990 to 2005. Forty papers were selected and five major theme areas were established for the survey: the nomenclatures assigned to vague and diffuse symptoms; their definitions; the relevance of the theme being addressed; the criteria used to diagnose vague and diffuse symptoms; and the therapeutic actions adopted. The discussion of the findings identifies many biomedical difficulties in dealing with sufferers from undefined complaints, including: diversity and lack of conceptual precision in the use of the nomenclature; physicians who are poorly prepared to deal with these patients; demand considered as a psychic disorder; difficulties in establishing diagnostic criteria and poor use of treatment resources. This leads to the conclusion that the biomedical model behind these difficulties has few tools for dealing with the singularities of human suffering and its experiential phenomenological dimension.
Key words Vague and diffuse symptoms, Biomedicine

Resumo Este estudo tem como objetivo realizar um mapeamento do que vem sendo produzido academicamente sobre sintomas vagos e difusos em biomedicina. Como instrumento metodológico, realizamos um levantamento bibliográfico, abrangendo o período de 1990 a 2005. Foram selecionados quarenta artigos e estabelecidos cinco eixos temáticos para investigação: nomenclaturas dadas aos sintomas vagos e difusos; definição dos sintomas vagos e difusos; relevância da