Medicalización de la Vida. Abordaje de su Demanda en Salud Mental

The phenomenon of life’s medicalization is increasing in developed countries, where several agent’s interests and changing concepts on health/disease meet. The existing controversies lead to the typification of pathology/non pathology, or the need for treatment/non treatment, leaving to the health specialist (doctor/psychiatrist/psychologist) the final decision. It must be taking into consideration the importance of its morbility as well as its social and economic impact. The consequences of this specific demand in the public health system have grown exponentially, sometimes overwhelming the capacity of teams to meet these needs, while at the same time getting controversial results from their interventions. This might mean that public services need to improve the coordination, organization and training of the professional staff in order to become more efficient both in assisting, as well as in determining in an acceptable manner when treatment is not necessary.