Some epidemiologic aspects of psychosomatic medicine

Both surveys of physicians' practices and community studies reveal that psychomatic disorders are very prevalent in our society. In a random sample of 1,645 adults, aged seventeen to ninety-two, we found that slightly more than 50% reported at least one psychosomatic symptom "regularly" during the preceding year; 17.3% reported two or more. A profile of the symptomatic shows that they tend to be widowed, separated, or divorced; many were unemployed, retired, or disabled. Examination of associations between certain sociocultural factors and the presence of psychosomatic symptomatology disclosed that, as a group, symptomatic respondents had been neither more nor less mobile than others. Most had relatives and friends nearby but few felt they could request help from either. Most attended church but few engaged in community activities. The symptomatic group appeared to lack meaningful social support systems. The discussion focuses on possible relationships between social change, support systems, and prevalence of psychosomatic symptomatology.