The aim of the present study was to critically analyze 15 empirical articles produced during a 30-year period (1972 - 2003) and indexed in the PsycINFO, Medline, Lilacs and SciELO databases; the selected articles focused on Chagas disease and its effects on the cognitive and psychosocial functioning of infected patients. The analysis indicates that cognitive damage and psychosocial stress are related to the Chagas disease. Major critical points are the small number of papers on psychosocial variables over the covered period and the diversity of the studied variables, suggesting the need for research that investigate more profoundly the impact of the disease on the patient, with personal as well as contextual variables so as to find out the combined effect of such conditions in order to implement successful health education policies and practices.
Chagas Disease; cognition; quality of life
