Somatic symptom disorder: an important change in DSM

Long-Term Outcome of Bodily Distress Syndrome in Primary Care: A Follow-Up Study on Health Care Costs, Work Disability, and Self-Rated Health

OBJECTIVE

The upcoming International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision for primary care use suggests inclusion of a new diagnostic construct, bodily (di)stress syndrome (BDS), for individuals with medically unexplained symptoms. We aimed to explore the long-term outcome of BDS in health care costs, work disability, and self-rated health.

METHODS

Consecutive patients consulting their family physician for a new health problem were screened for physical and mental symptoms by questionnaires (n = 1785). A stratified subsample was examined with a standardized diagnostic interview (n = 701). Patients with single-organ BDS (n = 124) and multiorgan BDS (n = 35), and a reference group with a family physician-verified medical condition (n = 880) were included. All included patients completed a questionnaire at 3, 12, and 24 months of follow-up. Register data on health care costs and work disability were obtained after 2 and 10 years of follow-up, respectively.

RESULTS

Patients with BDS displayed poorer self-rated health and higher illness worry at index consultation and throughout follow-up than the reference group (p ≤ .001). The annual health care costs were higher in the BDS groups (2270 USD and 4066 USD) than in the reference group (1392 USD) (achieved significance level (ASL) ≤ 0.001). Both BDS groups had higher risk of sick leave during the first 2 years of follow-up (RRsingle-organ BDS = 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-5.0; RRmultiorgan BDS = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.5-7.5) and substantially higher risk of newly awarded disability pension than the reference group (HRsingle-organ BDS = 4.9; 95% CI = 2.8-8.4; HRmultiorgan BDS = 8.7; 95% CI = 3.7-20.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BDS have poor long-term outcome of health care costs, work disability, and subjective suffering. These findings stress the need for adequate recognition and management of BDS.

Efficacy of sertraline and gabapentin in the treatment of urethral pain syndrome: retrospective results of a single institutional cohort

Introduction

Urethral pain syndrome is a subgroup of chronic pelvic pain syndromes and comprises a relatively challenging patient group in urological practice. Several different treatments have been used for the management of the condition from a mostly empirical basis. In this article, we present the results of a small cohort of young male patients treated with sertraline and gabapentin therapy.

Material and methods

The data of 52 patients was retrospectively evaluated and 31 patients' data was included in this study. Clinical symptom scores, including International Prostate Symptoms Score, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Visual Analog Scale for Pain, Quality of Life due to Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, and Urinary, Psychosocial, Organ Specific, Infection, Neurologic/Systemic, Tenderness of Skeletal Muscles (UPOINT) classifications were retrospectively analyzed from the patient records and charts.

Results

We observed improvement in clinical scores involving anxiety, lower urinary tract symptoms, quality of life, and pain. Statistical analysis revealed significant amelioration of the symptoms with gaba- pentin and sertraline treatment in our cohort.

Conclusions

Gabapentin and sertraline treatment may be considered in the second step management of urethral pain syndrome. To draw an evidence-based recommendation, prospective and comparative studies should be conducted in the future.

Research on Somatization and Somatic Symptom Disorders: Ars longa, vita brevis

The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition defines somatic symptom and related disorders as long-standing somatic symptoms that are associated with disproportionate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, irrespective of whether or not a medical cause for these symptoms can be determined. In this Special Section of Psychosomatic Medicine, several articles address diagnostic issues and the central nervous system correlates of somatic symptom and related disorder and document new developments in its treatment.

Somatic symptoms are sensitive in predicting interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

Objectives Somatic symptoms are somatic complaints accompanied by disproportionate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to such symptoms. The study investigated five International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnoses hallmarked by somatic symptoms. The study hypothesized an increased risk of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome in patients with somatic symptoms. Methods The raw data were obtained from a nationwide health insurance reimbursement database over a 12-year period from 2002 to 2013. The study followed a somatic symptoms cohort ( n = 34,393) and non-somatic symptoms cohort ( n = 637,999) for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Both cohorts were stratified into three subgroups based on propensity scores calculated by sex, age, and 17 comorbidities of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Results The incidence density of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome between the somatic symptoms cohort and non-somatic symptoms cohort was significantly different in the three subgroups (relative ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.14 [1.01, 4.53], 1.52 [1.47, 1.57], and 1.59 [1.28, 1.98], respectively). The adjusted hazard ratio for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome was significantly greater in the female-dominant and older age subgroups-subgroup 2 and subgroup 3 (adjusted hazard ratios, 1.47 [1.07, 2.01] and 1.72 [1.38, 2.16], respectively). Conclusion The longitudinal investigation identified a subsequent risk of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome in patients with somatic symptoms. Somatic symptoms might be linked to biological pathways that might increase the risk of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, much like more traditional psychosocial factors.

DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder in patients with vertigo and dizziness symptoms

OBJECTIVE

DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder (SSD) could potentially be a highly relevant diagnosis for patients with vertigo and dizziness. The criteria of SSD, particularly the B-criterion with its three components (cognitive, affective, behavioral), have however not yet been investigated in this patient group.

METHODS

We evaluated a large sample (n=399) of outpatients presenting in a neurological setting. Physical examinations and a psychometric assessment (SCID-I) were conducted; patients completed self-report questionnaires. The diagnosis of SSD was assigned retrospectively. The prevalence of SSD, its diagnostic criteria, and its overlap with former DSM-IV somatoform disorders were evaluated; comparisons were drawn between (1) patients fulfilling different components of the B-criterion and (2) patients with diagnoses after DSM-IV vs. DSM-5.

RESULTS

SSD was almost twice as common as DSM-IV somatoform disorders. Patients with all three components of the B-criterion reported the highest impairment levels. Patients with both DSM-IV somatoform disorders and DSM-5 SSD were more impaired compared to groups with one of the diagnoses; patients with DSM-IV somatoform disorders only were more impaired than those with SSD only.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that SSD is highly prevalent in patients with vertigo and dizziness. The classification of severity based on the number of psychological symptoms appears valid and may assist in finding suitable treatment options according to clinical practice guidelines. Future studies should investigate the overlap of SSD and other psychiatric disorders, this may assist in better defining the diagnostic criteria of SSD.

Medically unexplained somatic symptoms and bipolar spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD) frequently report medically unexplained somatic symptoms. However, the prevalence and the consequences for treatment and outcome are currently unknown.

METHODS

To estimate the prevalence of somatic symptoms in BSD, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of empirical studies published between 1980 and 2015. The odds for somatic symptoms in BSD were compared with unipolar depression (UPD) and general population or mixed psychiatric controls. Studies were retrieved from four electronic databases utilizing Boolean operations and reference list searches. Pooled data estimates were derived using random-effects methods.

RESULTS

Out of 2634 studies, 23 were eligible for inclusion, yielding an N of 106,785 patients. The estimated prevalence of somatic symptoms in BSD was 47.8%. The estimated prevalence of BSD in persons with somatic symptoms was 1.4%. Persons with BSD had a higher prevalence of somatic symptoms compared with population or mixed psychiatric controls (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.14-2.92). Persons with BSD had a similar prevalence of somatic symptoms compared with UPD controls (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.68-1.44).

LIMITATIONS

This study is correlational; thus causal inferences cannot be made. Reporting of somatic symptoms likely varies with BSD severity and subtype. Some studies reported insufficient information regarding comorbid medical conditions and medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with BSD suffer from somatic symptoms at a rate nearly double that of the general population, a rate similar to persons with UPD. Our results suggest the utility of an integrated care model in which primary care and specialist physicians collaborate with mental health professionals to jointly address psychological and bodily symptoms.

Phenotyping of subjects for large scale studies on patients with IBS

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex condition with multiple factors contributing to its aetiology and pathophysiology. Aetiologically these include genetics, life-time events and environment, and physiologically, changes in motility, central processing, visceral sensitivity, immunity, epithelial permeability and gastrointestinal microflora. Such complexity means there is currently no specific reliable biomarker for IBS, and thus IBS continues to be diagnosed and classified according to symptom based criteria, the Rome Criteria. Carefully phenotyping and characterisation of a 'large' pool of IBS patients across Europe and even the world however, might help identify sub-populations with accuracy and consistency. This will not only aid future research but improve tailoring of treatment and health care of IBS patients.

PURPOSE

The aim of this position paper is to discuss the requirements necessary to standardize the process of selecting and phenotyping IBS patients and how to organise the collection and storage of patient information/samples in such a large multi-centre pan European/global study. We include information on general demographics, gastrointestinal symptom assessment, psychological factors, quality of life, physiological evaluation, genetic/epigenetic and microbiota analysis, biopsy/blood sampling, together with discussion on the organisational, ethical and language issues associated with implementing such a study. The proposed approach and documents selected to be used in such a study was the result of a thoughtful and thorough four-year dialogue amongst experts associated with the European COST action BM1106 GENIEUR (www.GENIEUR.eu).

Preinjury somatization symptoms contribute to clinical recovery after sport-related concussion

OBJECTIVE

To determine the degree to which preinjury and acute postinjury psychosocial and injury-related variables predict symptom duration following sport-related concussion.

METHODS

A total of 2,055 high school and collegiate athletes completed preseason evaluations. Concussed athletes (n = 127) repeated assessments serially (<24 hours and days 8, 15, and 45) postinjury. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to predict concussive symptom duration (in days). Predictors considered included demographic and history variables; baseline psychological, neurocognitive, and balance functioning; acute injury characteristics; and postinjury clinical measures.

RESULTS

Preinjury somatic symptom score (Brief Symptom Inventory-18 somatization scale) was the strongest premorbid predictor of symptom duration. Acute (24-hour) postconcussive symptom burden (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3 symptom severity) was the best injury-related predictor of recovery. These 2 predictors were moderately correlated (r = 0.51). Path analyses indicated that the relationship between preinjury somatization symptoms and symptom recovery was mediated by postinjury concussive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Preinjury somatization symptoms contribute to reported postconcussive symptom recovery via their influence on acute postconcussive symptoms. The findings highlight the relevance of premorbid psychological factors in postconcussive recovery, even in a healthy athlete sample relatively free of psychopathology or medical comorbidities. Future research should elucidate the neurobiopsychosocial mechanisms that explain the role of this individual difference variable in outcome following concussive injury.

Clinical value of DSM IV and DSM 5 criteria for diagnosing the most prevalent somatoform disorders in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS)

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed (1) to describe frequencies of DSM IV somatisation disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder and pain disorder versus DSM 5 somatic symptom disorder (SSD) in a multi-setting population of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS), (2) to investigate differences in sociodemographic and (psycho)pathological characteristics between these diagnostic groups and (3) to explore the clinical relevance of the distinction between mild and moderate DSM 5 SSD.

METHODS

We used baseline data of a cohort of 325 MUPS patients. Measurements included questionnaires about symptom severity, physical functioning, anxiety, depression, health anxiety and illness perceptions. These questionnaires were used as proxy measures for operationalization of DSM IV and DSM 5 diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS

92.9% of participants fulfilled criteria of a DSM IV somatoform disorder, while 45.5% fulfilled criteria of DSM 5 SSD. Participants fulfilling criteria of DSM 5 SSD suffered from more severe symptoms than those only fulfilling criteria of a DSM IV somatoform disorder(mean PHQ-15 score of 13.98 (SD 5.17) versus 11.23 (SD 4.71), P-value<0.001). Furthermore their level of physical functioning was significantly lower. Compared to patients with mild SSD, patients with moderate SSD suffered from significantly lower physical functioning and higher levels of depression.

CONCLUSION

Within a population of MUPS patients DSM 5 SSD criteria are more restrictive than DSM IV criteria for somatoform disorders. They are associated with higher symptom severity and lower physical functioning. However, further specification of the positive psychological criteria of DSM 5 SSD may improve utility in research and practice.

What Should Primary Care Providers Know About the Changes in DSM-5?

Primary care providers are increasingly involved in the management of patients with mental disorders, particularly as integrated models of care emerge. The recent publication of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) represents a shift in the classification of several mental disorders commonly encountered by primary care providers. With the advent of ICD-10 and the movement toward diagnostic specificity, it is crucial that primary care providers understand the rationale behind these changes. This paper provides an overview of the changes in the classification of mental disorders in DSM-5, a description of how these changes relate to frequently used screening tools in the primary care setting, and a critique of how these changes will affect mental health practice from a primary care perspective.

Biopsychosocial Aspects of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

In this paper, we provide a general framework for understanding the functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) from a biopsychosocial perspective. More specifically, we provide an overview of the recent research on how the complex interactions of environmental, psychological, and biological factors contribute to the development and maintenance of the FGID. We emphasize that considering and addressing all these factors is a conditio sine qua non for appropriate treatment of these conditions. First, we provide an overview of what is currently known about how each of these factors - the environment, including the influence of those in an individual's family, the individual's own psychological states and traits, and the individual's (neuro)physiological make-up - interact to ultimately result in the generation of FGID symptoms. Second, we provide an overview of commonly used assessment tools which can assist clinicians in obtaining a more comprehensive assessment of these factors in their patients. Finally, the broader perspective outlined earlier is applied to provide an overview of centrally acting treatment strategies, both psychological and pharmacological, which have been shown to be efficacious to treat FGID.

Somatic symptom disorder, a new DSM-5 diagnosis of an old clinical challenge

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is characterised by a dysfunctional preoccupation with one or more physical symptoms. Patients with SSD often pursue excessive and unnecessary investigations, hospitalisations and treatments that significantly affect quality of life and drain healthcare resources. Thus, appropriate diagnosis and careful management are required to mitigate the patient's distress and to reduce the burden to the healthcare system. SSD is a new disorder defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fifth Edition (DSM-5), replacing somatoform and related disorders in the DSM-4-Text Revision with diagnostic criteria that are inclusive of a broad array of presentations. This report presents a detailed clinical case of an elderly man with a history of frequent hospital visits presenting with SSD. We discuss diagnostic challenges and evidence-based management in acute inpatient as well as in outpatient settings. We also review data on healthcare utilisation associated with SSD.

The challenge of diagnosing non-specific, functional, and somatoform disorders: A systematic review of barriers to diagnosis in primary care

OBJECTIVE

Despite their prevalence and impact on patients and the health care system, non-specific, functional, and somatoform disorders are underdiagnosed. This problem is especially problematic in primary care if we are moving towards an integrated care model. The objective of the current study was to identify and aggregate potential barriers to the diagnosis in primary care settings.

METHODS

Our systematic review methodology followed a pre-published protocol and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42013002540). We combined qualitative and quantitative data from studies identified in online databases and by hand searching of reference lists. Data were synthesized in a data-driven way using a grounded-theory approach. The level of evidence and assessment of bias for the final included studies was independently conducted.

RESULTS

Data from n=177 full text publications were independently extracted and combined in a custom database. The final list of included studies was n=42. From these, a total of n=379 barriers were identified comprising 77 barrier-level codes, 16 thematic categories and five over-arching themes, i.e., patient-related, primary-care-practitioner related, doctor-patient interactional, situational, and conceptual and operational barriers.

CONCLUSION

Given the thematic range of the identified barriers, the diagnostic process of non-specific, functional, and somatoform disorders in primary care is highly complex. Individual or practice-level interventions, as well as public awareness initiatives are needed to help address the diagnostic challenges. A multi-factorial understanding of symptoms with a biopsychosocial parallel diagnostic approach should be encouraged. More direct empirical investigations are also needed.

Somatic symptoms and psychological concerns in a general adolescent population: Exploring the relevance of DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder

OBJECTIVE

DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder (SSD) constitutes a major change for psychosomatic medicine and psychiatry, as well as for epidemiological research in these fields. This study investigates somatic symptoms and psychological concerns among adolescents in order to systematically explore the relevance of SSD for general adolescent populations.

METHODS

A cross-sectional population-based design, with a symptoms-based strategy and a symptom-and-psychological-concern-based strategy, was used to estimate the prevalence of somatic symptoms and psychological concerns in a general adolescent population (n=2476, mean age=16years, 49% boys, 51% girls). Somatic symptoms and psychological concerns in relation to gender, and self-reported medical and psychiatric conditions were investigated. The association between somatic symptoms, psychological concerns, and functional impairment in school-, family-, peer- and physical activities was studied.

RESULTS

Reporting 3+ persistent distressing somatic symptoms was significantly more common than reporting one or more persistent distressing somatic symptom(s) combined with serious psychological concern. The prevalence of such complaints was significantly higher in girls. The proportion of medical and psychiatric conditions was highest in the group reporting 3+ persistent distressing somatic symptoms combined with serious psychological concern. Belonging to this group most significantly increased odds ratios for functional impairment.

CONCLUSION

For large-scale studies on SSD, results suggest the use of measures based on multiple somatic items in combination with psychological concerns, and a methodologically sound standardized measure of functional impairment. To further enhance clinical decision-making, the relation of symptoms to functional impairment, and the substantial overlap of SSD with medical and psychiatric conditions during adolescence should be addressed.

Classification of somatic syndromes in ICD-11

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

As a part of the its current revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the WHO is proposing major changes to the somatoform section of the chapter on Mental and Behavioral Disorders. This article reviews the basis for these changes and presents the highlights of the new category being proposed.

RECENT FINDINGS

As currently classified in ICD-10, somatoform disorders have major problems that limit their clinical utility. Among these are the negative criterion specifications for the diagnosis of the disorders, the rarity of the prototype categories, and the imprecise boundaries between them. To respond to these problems, a new category of Bodily Distress Disorder (BDD) is proposed to replace the current categories. The proposed category is defined by a simplified set of criterion specifications that are based on the presence of positive psycho-behavioral features.

SUMMARY

The new category, still in proposal stage, offers the prospect of responding to the need for a reliable diagnosis of clinically significant somatic preoccupations that are common in the community as well as in routine clinical practice. It is expected that improved diagnosis should aid the correct identification of these conditions and enhance the ability of clinicians to provide effective treatment.

Increased cerebral cannabinoid-1 receptor availability is a stable feature of functional dyspepsia: a [F]MK-9470 PET study

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) defined by chronic epigastric symptoms in the absence of organic abnormalities likely to explain them. Comorbidity with mood and anxiety disorders as well as with other FGIDs and functional somatic syndrome (FSS) is high. FD is characterized by abnormal regional cerebral activity in cognitive/affective pain modulatory circuits, but it is unknown which neurotransmitter systems are involved. The authors aimed to assess and compare in vivo cerebral cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor availability between FD patients and age-, gender- and BMI-matched healthy controls (HC).

METHODS

Twelve FD patients and 12 matched HC were investigated using positron emission tomography (PET) with the CB1 receptor radioligand [(18)F]MK-9470. Nine of the patients received a second PET scan after a naturalistic follow-up period of 36 ± 9.6 months (range: 25.2-50.4 months).

RESULTS

FD patients had significantly higher CB1 receptor availability in the cerebral regions involved in (visceral) nociception (brainstem, insula, anterior cingulate cortex) as well as in the homeostatic and hedonic regulation of food intake [hypothalamus, (ventral) striatum] (p < 0.05 corrected for multiple testing, region of interest analysis), which persisted after a follow-up period of 36 ± 9.6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Although these findings need replication in larger samples, they suggest that the abnormal brain activity in several of these regions, previously demonstrated in FD, may be due to a sustained endocannabinoid system dysfunction, identifying it as a potential novel target for treatment and warranting further studies to elucidate whether it is also a feature of other FGIDs or FSSs.

Construct validity and clinical utility of current research criteria of DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder diagnosis in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The validity and clinical utility of current research criteria of the DSM 5 category somatic symptom disorder (SSD) needs to be tested outside the setting of psychiatry.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with an established diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) were evaluated by medical examination, psychiatric interview and self-report questionnaires in an outpatient pain medicine center. The diagnosis of SSD was established using published research criteria. The discriminative concurrent criterion validity of SSD was tested by comparing FMS-patients with and without SSD as to the amount of impairment and of health care seeking. Two clinicians blinded as to the purpose of the study, assessed the medical reports of patients after the evaluation for the determination of the need for psychotherapy based on the German FMS - guideline recommendations (clinical utility).

RESULTS

25.6% of 156 patients met the criteria of SSD. Patients meeting SSD criteria scored significantly higher in a self-report measure of disability. There were no significant differences in the number of patients on sick leave or applying for disability pension and in self-reported doctor visits and physiotherapy in the previous six months. 95.0% of patients with SSD and 71.6% of patients without SSD met the criteria of a current anxiety or depressive disorder as assessed by the psychiatric interview. 80.0% of patients with SSD and 66.7% of patients without SSD received a recommendation for psychotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The construct validity and clinical utility of current research criteria of DSM 5 category SSD were limited in German patients with FMS.

Mucosal-associated invariant T cell is a potential marker to distinguish fibromyalgia syndrome from arthritis

BACKGROUND

Fibromyalgia (FM) is defined as a widely distributed pain. While many rheumatologists and pain physicians have considered it to be a pain disorder, psychiatry, psychology, and general medicine have deemed it to be a syndrome (FMS) or psychosomatic disorder. The lack of concrete structural and/or pathological evidence has made patients suffer prejudice that FMS is a medically unexplained symptom, implying inauthenticity. Furthermore, FMS often exhibits comorbidity with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA), both of which show similar indications. In this study, disease specific biomarkers were sought in blood samples from patients to facilitate objective diagnoses of FMS, and distinguish it from RA and SpA.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients and healthy donors (HD) were subjected to multicolor flow cytometric analysis. The percentage of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in PBMCs and the mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of cell surface antigen expression in MAIT cells were analyzed.

RESULTS

There was a decrease in the MAIT cell population in FMS, RA, and SpA compared with HD. Among the cell surface antigens in MAIT cells, three chemokine receptors, CCR4, CCR7, and CXCR1, a natural killer (NK) receptor, NKp80, a signaling lymphocyte associated molecule (SLAM) family, CD150, a degrunulation marker, CD107a, and a coreceptor, CD8β emerged as potential biomarkers for FMS to distinguish from HD. Additionally, a memory marker, CD44 and an inflammatory chemokine receptor, CXCR1 appeared possible markers for RA, while a homeostatic chemokine receptor, CXCR4 deserved for SpA to differentiate from FMS. Furthermore, the drug treatment interruption resulted in alternation of the expression of CCR4, CCR5, CXCR4, CD27, CD28, inducible costimulatory molecule (ICOS), CD127 (IL-7 receptor α), CD94, NKp80, an activation marker, CD69, an integrin family member, CD49d, and a dipeptidase, CD26, in FMS.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined with the currently available diagnostic procedures and criteria, analysis of MAIT cells offers a more objective standard for the diagnosis of FMS, RA, and SpA, which exhibit multifaceted and confusingly similar clinical manifestations.

Somatic symptom burden and health anxiety in the population and their correlates

OBJECTIVE

Somatic symptom burden and health anxiety demonstrate overlapping clinical characteristics but their relationship in the general population is unclear. This study examined the association between these dimensions after adjustment for confounders and their respective correlation with outcome measures.

METHODS

A randomly selected population-based sample of 3014 respondents aged 15-65 was interviewed by telephone using a structured questionnaire that included the 15-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15), Whiteley-7, Kessler-6, Sheehan Disability Scale, socio-demographic variables and items regarding health care utilization. Respondents who scored 10 or above on PHQ-15 and 4 or above on Whiteley-5 were regarded as having high somatic symptom burden and high health anxiety respectively.

RESULTS

Somatic symptom burden and health anxiety are moderately correlated after adjustment for confounders (p<.001). Both have important effects on psychological distress, functional impairment and health care utilization independent of each other (ps<.001). A considerable number of respondents (5.7%) reported both high somatic symptom burden and high health anxiety and this group showed the greatest general psychological distress, functional impairment and health care utilization.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the close association of somatic symptom burden and health anxiety but also their independent association with psychological distress, functional impairment and health care utilization. The findings support the concept of the DSM-5 category of somatic symptom disorder, but also demonstrate that individuals with high somatic symptom burden or high health anxiety alone may merit separate diagnoses. More sophisticated studies of the relationship between somatic symptom burden and health anxiety are needed.

Trauma-related psychiatric comorbidity of somatization disorder among women in eastern Turkey

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to determine the trauma-related psychiatric comorbidity of somatization disorder among women who applied to an outpatient psychiatric unit of a general hospital in eastern Turkey.

METHODS

Forty women with somatization disorder and 40 non-clinical controls recruited from the same geographic region participated in the study. Somatization disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sections of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (including its criterion A traumatic events checklist), Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule, Dissociative Experiences Scale (Taxon), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Childhood Abuse and Neglect Questionnaire were administered to all participants.

RESULTS

A significant proportion of the women with somatization disorder had the concurrent diagnoses of major depression, PTSD, dissociative disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Women with somatization disorder reported traumatic experiences of childhood and/or adulthood more frequently than the comparison group. A significant proportion of these patients reported possession and/or paranormal experiences. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that current major depression, being married, total number of traumatic events in adulthood, and reports of possession and/or paranormal experiences were independent risk factors for somatization disorder diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Among women with endemically high exposition to traumatic stress, multiple somatic complaints were in a significant relationship with major depressive disorder and lifelong cumulative traumatization. While accompanying experiences of possession and paranormal phenomena may lead to seeking help by paramedical healers, the challenge of differential diagnosis may also limit effective service to this group of somatizing women with traumatic antecedents and related psychiatric comorbidities.

Approach to the patient with multiple somatic symptoms

Primary care providers play a crucial role in the recognition and appropriate treatment of patients with multiple somatic complaints. Both the number of somatic symptoms and the persistence of symptoms are associated with co-occurring depression or anxiety disorders. It can be challenging to simultaneously address possible medical causes for physical symptoms while also considering an associated psychiatric diagnosis. In this article, strategies to improve the care and outcomes among these patients are described, including collaboration, education about the interaction between psychosocial stressors and somatic symptoms, regularly scheduled visits, focus on improving functional status, and evidence-based treatment of depression and anxiety.

Dysfunctional illness perception and illness behaviour associated with high somatic symptom severity and low quality of life in general hospital outpatients in China

OBJECTIVE

In primary care populations in Western countries, high somatic symptom severity (SSS) and low quality of life (QoL) are associated with adverse psychobehavioural characteristics. This study assessed the relationship between SSS, QoL and psychobehavioural characteristics in Chinese general hospital outpatients.

METHODS

This multicentre cross-sectional study enrolled 404 patients from 10 outpatient departments, including Neurology, Gastroenterology, Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM] and Psychosomatic Medicine departments, in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Kunming. A structured interview was used to assess the cognitive, affective and behavioural features associated with somatic complaints, independent of their origin. Several standard instruments were used to assess SSS, emotional distress and health-related QoL. Patients who reported low SSS (PHQ-15<10, n=203, SOM-) were compared to patients who reported high SSS (PHQ-15≥10, n=201, SOM+).

RESULTS

As compared to SOM- patients, SOM+ patients showed significantly more frequently adverse psychobehavioural characteristics in all questions of the interview. In hierarchical linear regression analyses adjusted for anxiety, depression, gender and medical conditions (SSS additionally for doctor visits), high SSS was significantly associated with "catastrophising" and "illness vulnerability"; low physical QoL was associated with "avoidance of physical activities" and "disuse of body parts"; low mental QoL was associated with "need for immediate medical help."

CONCLUSION

In accordance with the results from Western countries, high SSS was associated with negative illness and self-perception, low physical QoL with avoidance behaviour, and low mental QoL with reassurance seeking in Chinese general hospital outpatients.

The Multidimensional Inventory of Hypochondriacal Traits

Severe health anxiety constitutes a disabling and costly clinical condition. The Multidimensional Inventory of Hypochondriacal Traits (MIHT) represents an innovative instrument that was developed according to cognitive-behavioral, cognitive-perceptual, interpersonal, and trait models of hypochondriasis. We aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of the MIHT in a sample of patients with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) diagnosis of hypochondriasis. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the postulated four-factor structure of the MIHT was found in a first CFA in patients with hypochondriasis ( n = 178) and in a second CFA based on a mixed sample, with other somatoform disorders ( n = 27), panic disorder ( n = 25), and healthy controls ( n = 31) added to the original group of patients with hypochondriasis ( n = 178). In terms of specificity, patients with hypochondriasis showed larger scores on all four MIHT subscales (i.e., affective, cognitive, behavioral, and perceptual) compared to all other groups. Analyses of convergent and discriminant validity revealed promising results concerning the MIHT affective and perceptual scales but also point to certain problematic issues concerning the MIHT cognitive and behavioral scales. The findings suggest that the proposed structure of the MIHT is valid also in patients with hypochondriasis and demonstrate the specificity of the four hypochondriacal traits assessed in the MIHT.

Patient Health Questionnaire 15 as a generic measure of severity in fibromyalgia syndrome: surveys with patients of three different settings

OBJECTIVE

Graduated treatment of patients with functional somatic syndromes (FSS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) depending on their severity has been recommended by recent guidelines. The Patient Health Questionnaire 15 (PHQ 15) is a validated measure of somatic symptom severity in FSS. We tested the discriminant and transcultural validity of the PHQ 15 as a generic measure of severity in persons with FMS.

METHODS

Persons meeting recognized FMS-criteria of the general German population (N=98), of the US National Data Bank of Rheumatic Diseases (N=440), and of a single German pain medicine center (N=167) completed validated self-report questionnaires on somatic and psychological distress (Polysymptomatic Distress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire 4), health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (Short Form Health Survey 12 or 36) and disability (Pain Disability Index). In addition, self-reports of working status were assessed in the clinical setting. Overall severity of FMS was defined by PHQ 15 scores: mild (0-9), moderate (10-14) and severe (15-30).

RESULTS

Persons with mild, moderate and severe FMS did not differ in age and gender. Irrespective of the setting, persons with severe FMS reported more pain sites, fatigue, depressed mood, impaired HRQOL and disability than persons with moderate or mild FMS. Patients with severe FMS in the NDB and in the German clinical center reported more work-related disability than patients with mild FMS.

CONCLUSION

The PHQ 15 is a valid generic measure of overall severity in FMS.

Symptoms, the nature of fibromyalgia, and diagnostic and statistical manual 5 (DSM-5) defined mental illness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia

Purpose

To describe and evaluate somatic symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia, determine the relation between somatization syndromes and fibromyalgia, and evaluate symptom data in light of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) criteria for somatic symptom disorder.

Methods

We administered the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), a measure of somatic symptom severity to 6,233 persons with fibromyalgia, RA, and osteoarthritis. PHQ-15 scores of 5, 10, and 15 represent low, medium, and high somatic symptom severity cut-points. A likely somatization syndrome was diagnosed when PHQ-15 score was ≥10. The intensity of fibromyalgia diagnostic symptoms was measured by the polysymptomatic distress (PSD) scale.

Results

26.4% of RA patients and 88.9% with fibromyalgia had PHQ-15 scores ≥10 compared with 9.3% in the general population. With each step-wise increase in PHQ-15 category, more abnormal mental and physical health status scores were observed. RA patients satisfying fibromyalgia criteria increased from 1.2% in the PHQ-15 low category to 88.9% in the high category. The sensitivity and specificity of PHQ-15≥10 for fibromyalgia diagnosis was 80.9% and 80.0% (correctly classified = 80.3%) compared with 84.3% and 93.7% (correctly classified = 91.7%) for the PSD scale. 51.4% of fibromyalgia patients and 14.8% with RA had fatigue, sleep or cognitive problems that were severe, continuous, and life-disturbing; and almost all fibromyalgia patients had severe impairments of function and quality of life.

Conclusions

All patients with fibromyalgia will satisfy the DSM-5 “A” criterion for distressing somatic symptoms, and most would seem to satisfy DSM-5 “B” criterion because symptom impact is life-disturbing or associated with substantial impairment of function and quality of life. But the “B” designation requires special knowledge that symptoms are “disproportionate” or “excessive,” something that is uncertain and controversial. The reliability and validity of DSM-5 criteria in this population is likely to be low.