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Somatization in the community.

J I Escobar, M A Burnam, M Karno

Archives of General Psychiatry

|August 1, 1987

Summary

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A broader definition of somatization symptoms identified 4.4% of individuals, significantly higher than the 0.03% meeting full DSM-III somatization disorder criteria. Sociodemographic factors and psychiatric diagnoses influenced symptom prevalence.

Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Epidemiology
Mental Health Research

Background:

Somatization disorder is a complex condition with varying diagnostic criteria.
Previous research has focused on strict diagnostic definitions, potentially underestimating prevalence.
Understanding the factors influencing somatization symptoms is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the prevalence of somatization disorder symptoms in a large community sample.
To explore the influence of sociodemographic factors and psychiatric diagnoses on reported symptoms.
To propose and validate a less-restrictive operational definition for identifying somatizers.

Main Methods:

Utilized data from 3132 community respondents interviewed in Los Angeles as part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area program.

Related Experiment Videos

Employed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule to elicit somatization symptoms.

Developed and applied an abridged cutoff score for somatization based on a review of conceptual and nosological aspects.

Main Results:

A significantly higher prevalence of 4.4% was found using the abridged cutoff score compared to 0.03% for the full DSM-III somatization disorder diagnosis.
Age, gender, ethnic background, and the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis were significant predictors of the number of somatization symptoms reported.
The abridged cutoff score demonstrated associations with sociodemographic factors and psychiatric diagnoses as predicted.

Conclusions:

A less-restrictive definition of somatization symptoms captures a broader population than the strict DSM-III criteria.
Sociodemographic variables and co-occurring psychiatric conditions play a significant role in the manifestation of somatization symptoms.
The findings suggest the need to consider a wider spectrum of somatization phenomena in clinical and epidemiological research.