INTERSECTIONALITY IN MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS
IMPLICATIONS FOR EQUITY IN CARE AND FOR HEALTH SERVICES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54620/cadesp.v20i1.2683Keywords:
Intersectionality, Mental health, Mental disorders, Social determinants of health, DiagnosisAbstract
Introduction: Mental disorder diagnosis is influenced by social determinants that permeate health systems and impact care access and quality. Structural inequalities related to race, gender, social class, and sexuality can interfere with psychological distress identification and diagnosis definition, producing inequities in mental health care. In this context, the intersectional approach contributes to understand how multiple social markers interact in the production of these inequalities. Objective: To analyze, through systematic literature review, how intersectionality influences the diagnosis of mental disorders and to discuss implications for care equity and health services. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, using the PEO strategy. The PubMed, SciELO, and VHL databases were consulted for studies published from 2000 to 2024. The selection was carried out in three stages: duplicate removal, screening by title and abstract, and then full-text reading. Methodological quality was assessed by two independent reviewers using instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: It was evident that implicit biases, stigmas, and culturally limited diagnostic models influence accuracy, especially among negro women, transgender people, and individuals in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability. Conclusions: Incorporating an intersectional perspective can contribute to more sensitive diagnosis to social inequalities, strengthening equity in mental health care and improving professional practices, health training, and public policies.
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