Psycho-behavioral Variables Among Patients With Multiple Somatic Symptoms

INTRODUCTION:Cultural background has been shown to influence symptoms and healthcare utilization among patients with different somatic symptom severity. This study aimed to assess psychological and behavioral features of general hospital outpatients in China.METHODS:In2012-2013, a convenience sample of143outpatients reporting high scores of PHQ-15(SOM+), aged44±15years, were interviewed. We collected sociodemographic data, physical symptoms severity (PHQ-15), illness behavior (Self-Rating Scale of Illness Conception and Health Seeking Behavior), physical and mental comorbidity[M.I.N.I.]. Descriptive and analytic statistical methods were conducted to assess key features and group differences.RESULTS:Patients were comparable regarding age, educational level and living state. Physical disease burden was significantly higher in GI department[GI88.0%, TCM68.6%, PSY47.6%, p<0.001), while patients in different departments had similar mental illness comorbidity rate(GI54.5%, TCM48%, PSY48%, p=0.539). Further, variables were found for health seeking behaviors and treatment expectations. Finally, more that50%patients (from all three departments) did not reject illness attribution towards ’psychological factor’.CONCLUSIONS:Psycho-behavioral variables were identified among clinic patients with multiple somatic symptoms in general hospital. The results of our study could be used as a base for developing interventions.