Evaluation of the associated feature with mental disability in outpatients with somatoform disorders in general hospital

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the socioeconomic condition of somatoform disorders (SFD) and to explore the associated features with mental disability in outpatients with SFD in general hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study of SFD patients in 9 general hospitals of 5 cities was performed. Patients diagnosed with SFD (n=327) and well-defined medical condition (WDC)(n=119) were recruited from psychological outpatient department, Gastroenterology, neurology and traditional Chinese medicine outpatient department. WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHO-DASII), Depression Scalse of the Patient Health Questionare (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Item Scale (GAD-7), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Self Made Socio-Demographic Questionare were employed to evaluate the participants.T-test and Pearson χ2 test were used to analyze the social demographic and clinical measurements accordingly. Linear regression was carried out to explore the risk factors of SFD functional impairment. Results There were significant differences of the gender ratio between SFD and WDC (63.9%(63/119) vs. 52.9%(209/327), χ2=4.53,P=0.03) . There were more frequent utilization of medical care in SFD than in WDC (rate of more than 10 times on doctor-visits in the last 12 month: χ2=31.55, P<0.01).51.4% patients in SFD has the duration of disease longer than half-year, compared with 26.8% in WDC (χ2=44.71, P<0.01) .PHQ-9 in SFD group was higher than those in WDC (8.5±6.4 vs. 6.9±5.9; t=2.33, P=0.02) . And the mental disability significantly correlated to their health insurance condition,living in urban area or not,marital status, and the exercise habit in winter or summer (r=0.12,0.12,0.14,0.12, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Further more, living in rural area, anxiety and depression were the strong risk factors formental disability in SFD outpatients in these general hospitals. 49.3% variation (F=77.76, P<0.01) of mental disability was explained by the model. Conclusion There is more affection symptoms in SFD patients than the WDC patients. And living in rural area, anxiety and depression statusare the risk factors for mental disability in SFD outpatients in the general hospitals. Key words: Anxiety; Depression; Mentally disabled persons; Somatoform disorders