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The amplification of somatic symptoms
A J Barsky1, J D Goodson, R S Lane
1Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Psychosomatic Medicine
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Somatosensory amplification significantly predicts localized symptoms and disability in patients with upper-respiratory-tract infections. This tendency to amplify bodily sensations impacts illness experience and functioning, independent of medical factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Medical Sociology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Somatosensory amplification influences how individuals perceive and react to bodily sensations.
- Understanding amplification's role in mild illnesses is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between somatosensory amplification and symptomatology, discomfort, and disability in patients with upper-respiratory-tract infections.
- To determine if amplification predicts illness experience beyond medical and demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- Self-report questionnaire used to measure somatosensory amplification.
- Multiple regression analyses conducted on 115 adult walk-in clinic patients with upper-respiratory-tract infections.
- Controlled for medical morbidity and sociodemographic characteristics.
Main Results:
- Somatosensory amplification significantly predicted localized symptoms, overall discomfort, and social/vocational disability.
- Amplification was not a significant predictor of systemic symptoms.
- Amplification showed a close but distinct relationship with depression, anxiety, and hostility.
Conclusions:
- Somatosensory amplification is a key factor in how patients experience and function with mild acute illnesses.
- The tendency to amplify bodily sensations affects illness perception and reporting.
- Findings suggest amplification is an important consideration in managing patient discomfort and disability.