[How burdensome is the treatment of patients with somatoform disorders?]

This study examines the influence of self-perceived emotional stress during the treatment of patients with somatoform disorders. It asks whether emotional stress can be influenced by psychosomatic education.

Via online questionnaire general practitioners were asked about the prevalence of patients presenting with somatoform disorders and emotional stress during treatment.

The prevalence of somatoform disorders in general practices was estimated at around 27.7 %. Practitioners educated in psychosomatic medicine estimate the prevalence of patients with somatoform disorders higher than practitioners without such education (n = 79; r = 0.242; p = 0.032). The treatment of patients presenting with somatoform disorders causes 42.6% more emotional stress among general practitioners compared with the treatment of an average patient (n = 79; t = 16.67; p ≤ 0.001). Doctors with additional education in psychosomatic medicine rate stress 17.2% lower than doctors without such education (n = 79; t = 1.875; p = 0.033).

General practitioners experience the treatment of patients presenting with somatoform disorders as emotionally stressful. This emotional stress is mainly explained by increases in time expenditure, but it can be reduced by additional psychosomatic education.