Psychiatric disorders in relation to medical illness among patients of a general medical out-patient clinic

Validation of the Spanish version of the geriatric depression scale (GDS) in primary care

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the predictive value of the 30-question Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in Spanish and calculate the most adequate cut-point for its use in Primary Health Care consultations.

METHOD

218 patients over the age of 64 treated at three health centers of Area 10 in Madrid were selected. In the first phase, the subjects completed the GDS, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a questionnaire on health and socio-demographic variables. They were later interviewed using the Geriatric Mental Schedule (GMS), used as the gold standard by doctors who were unaware of the results of the GDS. Two categories were contemplated according to the results of the GMS: cases of depression (diagnosis of psychotic or neurotic depression) and non-psychiatric cases (no psychiatric diagnosis, although isolated symptoms could be present).

RESULTS

192 aged subjects were interviewed using the GDS and the GMS. Of these, 103 were considered "non-cases of depression" and 60 others made up the "cases of psychotic/neurotic depression" group. For the most effective cut-point (9/10), sensitivity was 86.7% and specificity 63.1%. Considering a prevalence of depression of 30%, the predictive value for positives was 50.2% and for negatives 91.7%. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.82, and the area below the ROC curve obtained was 0.85. Those patients with cognitive deterioration had a mean GDS score similar to those that did not present deterioration (11.16 vs 10.52; p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Geriatric Depression Scale is valid as a screening test in Primary Care consultations due to its high sensitivity and negative predictive value. The most effective Spanish GDS cut-point (9/10) is lower than that obtained in the original English version (10/11).

Identifying somatization disorder in a population-based health examination survey: psychosocial burden and gender differences

Despite its enormous medical burden, little is known about the epidemiology of somatization in the community. The present study screened a representative population-based survey of 7,466 subjects in the age range of 25 to 69 years for the occurrence of somatization. A total of 137 (1.84%) individuals experienced six or more symptoms from at least two different body sites without an identifiable organic cause. These patients exhibited a lower quality of life (P < or = 0.0001) and suffered from higher levels of emotional stress (P < or = 0.0001) than their counterparts in the healthy subsample (n=906). Somatization was not associated with a medical diagnosis, but disability days, the use of medical services, and the level of medication was higher in the somatization disorder group (P < or = 0.004). The somatization risk was only 1.6-fold higher for women in comparison to men but escalated for women rapidly to an approximately 4-fold risk when being female was combined with low social class and high emotional distress. Against expectation, the somatization risk for men also mounted 3-fold under the identical risk constellation.

How many functional somatic syndromes?

OBJECTIVE

Patients with medically unexplained symptoms are given diagnoses dependent upon the particular medical specialty consulted--irritable bowel syndrome in gastroenterology, fibromyalgia in rheumatology and others. The purpose of this paper is to establish whether these 13 different syndromes are discrete entities.

METHODS

Consecutive new patients in seven outpatient clinics at two general hospitals were recruited. Patients completed questionnaires measuring symptoms and demographic data. Case notes were reviewed to ascertain whether the presenting symptoms were medically explained 3 months after the initial visit.

RESULTS

Complete data were available for 550 subjects. With 37 unexplained symptoms included in the model, 30% of the total variance could be explained by one factor using unrotated principal component analysis. When the 13 identified functional syndromes were included, it was evident that functional syndromes could not be assumed to be independent. A two-factor model was the best fit for the present data after rotation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the existence of distinct functional somatic syndromes (FSSynd) as defined clinically in medicine should be reconsidered.

Medically unexplained symptoms: an epidemiological study in seven specialities

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for medically unexplained symptoms across a variety of specialities.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two general hospitals in southeast London between 1995 and 1997. Eight hundred and ninety consecutive new patients from seven outpatient clinics were included. Demographic and clinical characteristic variables were assessed.

RESULTS

Five hundred eighty-two (65%) of the subjects surveyed returned completed questionnaires. A final diagnosis was available in 550 (62%). Two hundred twenty-eight (52%) fulfilled criteria for medically unexplained symptoms. The highest prevalence was in the gynecology clinic (66%). After adjustment for confounders, medically unexplained symptoms were associated with being female, younger, and currently employed. Psychiatric morbidity per se was not associated with the presence of medically unexplained symptoms, but was more likely in those complaining of multiple symptoms. Those with medically unexplained symptoms were less disabled, but more likely to use alternative treatment in comparison with those whose symptoms were medically explained. Patients with medically unexplained symptoms were more likely to attribute their illness to physical causes as opposed to lifestyle factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Medically unexplained symptoms are common across general/internal medicine and represent the most common diagnosis in some specialities. Medical behavior, training, and management need to take this into account.

Abnormal illness behavior of patients with functional somatic symptoms: relation to psychiatric disorders

Functional somatic symptoms are highly associated with hypochondriasis, anxiety, and depressive disorders. Despite the absence of an organic disorder, underlying psychological distress of patients with functional somatic symptoms may result in abnormal illness behavior such as inadequate treatment seeking or overuse of medical services. Using the Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), we examined the illness behavior of Japanese patients visiting a general medicine clinic whose physical symptoms were considered functional. We used the General Health Questionnaire-30 to classify patients with functional somatic symptoms as those with and without psychological distress. Patients with distress (n=35) reported more physical complaints and higher IBQ scores than did patients without distress (n=22). The IBQ profile of patients with psychological distress was identical to that of patients diagnosed with either hypochondriasis or major depression. The illness behavior of patients without psychological distress was indistinguishable from that of patients whose physical symptoms were attributed to organic disease. These results further support the hypothesis that functional somatic symptoms may be associated with hypochondriasis and major depression, the pathology of which may contribute to the development of abnormal illness behavior.

Resource utilization of patients with hypochondriacal health anxiety and somatization

OBJECTIVES

To examine the resource utilization of patients with high levels of somatization and health-related anxiety.

DESIGN

Consecutive patients on randomly chosen days completed a self-report questionnaire assessing somatization and health-related, hypochondriacal anxiety. Their medical care utilization in the year preceding and following completion of the questionnaire was obtained from an automated patient record. The utilization of patients above and below a predetermined threshold on the questionnaire was then compared.

PATIENTS AND SETTING

Eight hundred seventy-six patients attending a primary care clinic in a large, urban, teaching hospital.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Number of ambulatory physician visits (primary care and specialist), outpatient costs (total, physician services, and laboratory procedures), proportion of patients hospitalized, and proportion of patients receiving emergency care.

RESULTS

Patients in the uppermost 14% of the clinic population on somatization and hypochondriacal health anxiety had appreciably and significantly higher utilization in the year preceding and the year following completion of the somatization questionnaire than did the rest of the patients in the clinic. After adjusting for group differences in sociodemographic characteristics and medical comorbidity, significant differences in utilization remained. In the year preceding the assessment of somatization, their adjusted total outpatient costs were $1,312 (95% CI $1154, $1481) versus $954 (95% CI $868, $1057) for the remainder of the patients and the total number of physician visits was 9.21 (95% CI 7.94, 10.40) versus 6.33 (95% CI 5.87, 6.90). In the year following the assessment of somatization, those above the threshold had adjusted total outpatient costs of $1,395 (95% CI $1243, $1586) versus $1,145 (95% CI $1038, $1282), 9.8 total physician visits (95% CI 8.66, 11.07) versus 7.2 (95% CI 6.62, 7.77), and had a 24% (95% CI 19%, 30%) versus 17% (95% CI 14%, 20%) chance of being hospitalized.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary care patients who somatize and have high levels of health-related anxiety have considerably higher medical care utilization than nonsomatizers in the year before and after being assessed. This differential persists after adjusting for differences in sociodemographic characteristics and medical morbidity.

Mental disorders among internal medical inpatients: prevalence, detection, and treatment status

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of ICD-10 mental disorders among internal medical inpatients, the relation between mental disorder, age, and gender, and the recognition and referral of the disordered patients.

METHOD

294 consecutive medical inpatients were examined with a two-phase design using the SCAN (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry) for ICD-10 psychiatric diagnoses. Information from questionnaires and interviews with patients, doctors, nurses, and from medical records.

RESULTS

The prevalence of current mental disorders was 38.7%, being heavily increased in young patients. Main diagnoses were somatoform disorders (17.6%), phobias (12.9%), substance use disorders (10.9%), and depression (8.3%). Psychiatric consultations were very few. About 38-56% of the cases were recognized by medical doctors and nurses, and only about 20% were in mental health treatment.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of mental disorders among internal medical inpatients is high and increased in young patients and women. Detection and referral are low, and few are treated.

Psychopathology in patients with severe asthma is associated with increased health care utilization

Severe asthma accounts for the majority of health costs for this disease, which is mainly related to the treatment of failed control. Several psychosocial factors have been associated with poor asthma control, but the question remains whether psychiatric disorder in patients with severe asthma predisposes for increased health care utilization. In the present study we compared outpatients with severe asthma with and without psychological dysfunctioning with respect to health care utilization. All patients used high dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators for more than 1 yr, and had difficult-to-control asthma, requiring one or more courses of corticosteroids during the past year or maintenance therapy with prednisone. Medical history was taken and health care utilization questionnaires were completed. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to identify psychiatric cases (GHQ-12 score of > or = 6). There were no differences between the psychiatric cases (n = 21) and the noncases (n = 77) with respect to demographic and objective disease characteristics. However, the psychiatric cases had increased odds ratios (OR) for frequent visits to GP (OR = 5.9), frequent emergency visits (OR = 5.3), frequent exacerbations (OR = 12.4), and frequent hospitalizations (OR = 4.8) as compared with the nonpsychiatric patients. The present findings suggest that the morbidity and costs of asthma might be related to the level of psychological dysfunctioning in patients with severe asthma rather than to asthma severity per se, thereby identifying an area of potential intervention.

Medically unexplained symptoms in frequent attenders of secondary health care: retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of medically unexplained symptoms in patients who most frequently attend outpatient services.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study over three years with review of case notes.

SETTING

Secondary care services in the South Thames (West) NHS region.

PARTICIPANTS

Outpatient attenders with new appointments in 1993.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Number of outpatient appointments, and number of consultation episodes for medically unexplained conditions.

RESULTS

Medical records of 361 of 400 sampled frequent attenders were examined, and 971 consultation episodes were recorded. Ninety seven (27%) had one or more consultation episodes in which the condition was medically unexplained; 208 (21%) of the 971 consultation episodes were medically unexplained. Abdominal pain, chest pain, headache, and back pain were commonly found to be medically unexplained.

CONCLUSIONS

Medically unexplained symptoms present in most hospital specialties and account for a considerable proportion of consultations by frequent attenders in secondary care.

Routinely administered questionnaires for depression and anxiety: systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effect of routinely administered psychiatric questionnaires on the recognition, management, and outcome of psychiatric disorders in non-psychiatric settings.

DATA SOURCES

Embase, Medline, PsycLIT, Cinahl, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and hand searches of key journals.

METHODS

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of the administration and routine feedback of psychiatric screening and outcome questionnaires to clinicians in non-psychiatric settings. Narrative overview of key design features and end points, together with a random effects quantitative synthesis of comparable studies.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Recognition of psychiatric disorders after feedback of questionnaire results; interventions for psychiatric disorders; and outcome of psychiatric disorders.

RESULTS

Nine randomised studies were identified that examined the use of common psychiatric instruments in primary care and general hospital settings. Studies compared the effect of the administration of these instruments followed by the feedback of the results to clinicians, with administration with no feedback. Meta-analytic pooling was possible for four of these studies (2457 participants), which measured the effect of feedback on the recognition of depressive disorders. Routine administration and feedback of scores for all patients (irrespective of score) did not increase the overall rate of recognition of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression (relative risk of detection of depression by clinician after feedback 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 1.09). Two studies showed that routine administration followed by selective feedback for only high scorers increased the rate of recognition of depression (relative risk of detection of depression after feedback 2.64, 1.62 to 4.31). This increased recognition, however, did not translate into an increased rate of intervention. Overall, studies of routine administration of psychiatric measures did not show an effect on patient outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The routine measurement of outcome is a costly exercise. Little evidence shows that it is of benefit in improving psychosocial outcomes of those with psychiatric disorder managed in non-psychiatric settings.

Is alexithymia a risk factor for unexplained physical symptoms in general medical outpatients?

OBJECTIVE

Alexithymia is presumed to play an important predisposing role in the pathogenesis of medically unexplained physical symptoms. However, no research on alexithymia has been done among general medical outpatients who present with medically unexplained physical symptoms as their main problem and in which anxiety and depression have been considered as possible confounding factors. This study investigated whether patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms are more alexithymic than those with explained symptoms and whether, in patients with unexplained symptoms, alexithymia is associated with subjective health experience and use of medical services.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among patients attending an internal medicine outpatient clinic. All patients were given a standardized interview and completed a number of questionnaires.

RESULTS

After complete physical examinations, 169 of 321 patients had unexplained physical symptoms according to two independent raters. Patients with medically unexplained symptoms more often had a mental disorder, but overall they were not more alexithymic. In patients with unexplained physical symptoms, alexithymia was not associated with subjective health experience or use of medical services. However, patients with both unexplained symptoms and a mental disorder who also denied any possible connection between emotional problems and their physical symptoms did have more alexithymic traits.

CONCLUSIONS

In the majority of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms, alexithymia does not play a role of clinical significance. Patients with unexplained physical symptoms are heterogeneous with respect to psychiatric syndrome pathology and probably also with respect to personality pathology.

Healthy patients who perceive poor health: why are they worried sick?

OBJECTIVE

To explore characteristics of patients who are physically healthy but who perceive poor health by investigating the hypothesis that mental health problems, financial strain, and deficiencies in social support underlie why these patients are "worried sick."

METHODS

Three hundred forty-eight continuity patients in 2 rural primary care practices were administered the PRIME-MD, the MOS SF-36, a health-related worry (1-item, 5-point) scale, the MOS social support survey, and perceived economic strain instruments. The patient's physician rated physical health on a 10-point scale. Health care utilization was defined as the number of office visits and total office and laboratory charges for 6 months before and after the interview date.

RESULTS

Two hundred thirty-seven patients (group A) scored in the upper and middle terciles on the MOS health perceptions scale. One hundred eleven patients scored in the lower tercile on health perceptions: 59 (group B) were rated as having good physical health (physical health rating > 6) and 52 (group C) as having poor health (rating < or = 6). The "worried sick" patients (group B) resembled Group A with regard to physical health, but resembled the sick (group C) with regard to all MOS functional scales, prevalence of mental health diagnoses, and worry. Social support was similar across groups. Only 1 of 3 measures of economic strain was less in group A than B and C.

CONCLUSIONS

Our measures of mental health problems, financial strain, and deficiencies in social support accounted only in part for the differences among the three groups. Other explanations of why some are "worried sick" require study, such as other life stressors and personality traits.

Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients referred to general neurology outpatient clinics, to compare disability and number of somatic symptoms in patients with and without emotional disorder, the relation to neurological disease, and assess the need for psychiatric treatment as perceived by patients and doctors.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study set in a regional neurology service in Edinburgh, Scotland. The subjects were 300 newly referred consecutive outpatients who were assessed for DSM IV anxiety and depressive disorders (PRIME-MD, and HAD), health status, and disability (SF-36), and patients', GPs' and neurologists' ratings of the need for patient to receive psychiatric or psychological treatment.

RESULTS

Of 300 new patients, 140 (47%) met criteria for one or more DSM IV anxiety or depressive diagnosis. Major depression was the most common (27%). A comparison of patients with and without emotional disorder showed that physical function, physical role functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning were worse in patients with emotional disorders (p<0. 0005). The median number of somatic symptoms was greater in patients with emotional disorders (p<0.0005). These differences were independent of the presence of neurological disease. Few patients wished to receive psychiatric or psychological treatments. Both general practitioners and neurologists were more likely to recommend psychiatric treatment when the patients' symptoms were medically unexplained.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of new referrals to general neurology clinics met criteria for a DSM IV psychiatric diagnosis. These patients were more disabled, and had more somatic symptoms. They expressed little enthusiasm for receiving psychiatric treatment.

Managing physical symptoms: the clinical assessment as treatment

Physical symptoms are a common cause of attendance at general hospital out-patient clinics. There is good evidence that cognitive therapy is effective in the management of such physical symptoms. This narrative review suggests that the assessment itself, without formal psychological therapy, may be used as a treatment, regardless of whether relevant pathology is absent or present. Changing patients' beliefs about their symptoms may improve a broad range of outcomes, including symptoms, disability, distress, and health-care resource use. The evidence for investigations as treatment is reviewed, along with potential for further development and possible pitfalls. A rationale is presented for a brief psychoeducational intervention that can be delivered in the clinic. This would be a logical extension of the kind of simple explanation and reassurance that occurs routinely today, but which is not explicitly used as, or regarded as, treatment. The dearth of relevant evidence is emphasized, and recommendations are made for future research.

Childhood risk factors for adults with medically unexplained symptoms: results from a national birth cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the prior experience of physical illness in childhood is associated with later experience of medically unexplained symptoms.

METHOD

A nested case-control study was performed within a prospective birth cohort study: the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development. The 5% most symptomatic individuals at age 36 years were identified and screened for physical illness. Subjects without defined physical diagnoses (N = 191) were compared with the remainder of the sample (N = 3,107) for childhood exposures.

RESULTS

There was a powerful relationship between poor reported health of the parents when subjects were aged 15 years and symptoms at age 36; the relationship was independent of current psychiatric disorder. Medically unexplained symptoms were associated with abdominal pain in childhood but not with defined childhood diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Medically unexplained symptoms appear to be related to prior experience of illness in the family and previous unexplained symptoms in the individual. This may reflect a learned process whereby illness experience leads to symptom monitoring.

Recognition of medically unexplained symptoms--do doctors agree?

The aim of this study was to investigate the interrater reliability of the recognition of medically unexplained symptoms by medical investigators. The casenotes of 56 consecutive secondary care out-patient attenders were examined by three medical investigators. The investigators determined whether the presenting symptoms were medically unexplained (not, probable, or definite) and the results were tested for interrater reliability. The combined kappa for the three investigators was 0.76, indicating substantial agreement. This suggests that casenote examination is a reliable method of determining whether a symptom is medically unexplained.

Functional somatic syndromes: one or many?

We review the concept and importance of functional somatic symptoms and syndromes such as irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. On the basis of a literature review, we conclude that a substantial overlap exists between the individual syndromes and that the similarities between them outweigh the differences. Similarities are apparent in case definition, reported symptoms, and in non-symptom association such as patients' sex, outlook, and response to treatment. We conclude that the existing definitions of these syndromes in terms of specific symptoms is of limited value; instead we believe a dimensional classification is likely to be more productive.

Psychiatric and social outcome following liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease: a controlled study

Psychiatric outcome, quality of life, and alcohol consumption were compared between patients transplanted for alcoholic liver disease and those transplanted for other chronic liver diseases. Instruments used included the Clinical Interview Schedule, the 28-item General Health Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Nottingham Health Profile. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to median scores or "caseness" on these instruments, except for physical mobility on the Nottingham Health Profile, where the alcoholic group was more likely to experience difficulties (p = 0.03). The majority of those transplanted for alcoholic liver disease remained abstinent, although 7 of the 31 in the alcoholic group (23%) were drinking above recommended safe limits. Psychosocial outcome is similar for individuals transplanted for alcoholic liver disease and those transplanted for other chronic liver diseases. Patients should not be excluded from transplantation on grounds of their drinking history.

The status of alexithymia as a risk factor in medically unexplained physical symptoms

Some decennia ago, the concept of alexithymia was developed from the clinical experience of psychosomaticians who at the time were largely working within a psychoanalytic frame of reference. Alexithymia can briefly be described as a cognitive-affective disturbance characterized by difficulties in differentiating one's feelings and expressing them in words. Clinicians who treat patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms may often recognize alexithymic features in their patients. It is supposed that alexithymia could be a predisposing factor for the development or persistence of medically unexplained physical symptoms. In this review, the concept of alexithymia as well as paradigmatic shifts in psychoanalysis and psychosomatics are discussed to place the concept of alexithymia in its epistemiological context. Furthermore, the empirical literature on the association between alexithymia and medically unexplained physical symptoms is reviewed. The main conclusions are that alexithymia appears to be a theoretically important and clinically appealing concept, but that so far the empirical evidence that alexithymia predisposes to the development or persistence of medically unexplained physical symptoms is imperfect. This is mainly because of the cross-sectional design of most studies and is due to other methodological shortcomings, such as the lack of allowance for depression and anxiety as possible confounding factors. Suggestions for future research are made.

The nature and prevalence of anxiety disorders in primary care

Primary goals of this study were to 1) establish the prevalence, nature, and correlates of anxiety disorders in primary care, and 2) examine the comorbidity of anxiety disorders with major depressive disorder. A weighted sample of 425 patients drawn from the waiting rooms of primary care physicians was used. Anxiety disorders were highly prevalent, relatively mild, and often comorbid with depression. Anxiety disorders aided physicians in their detection of depression. However, anxiety disorders were also misdiagnosed as depression. Although anxiety disorders are common in primary care, their relative mildness may generally not warrant increased attention by primary care physicians to detection and treatment. Instead, efforts should be focused on the more severe and impairing cases of anxiety disorder.

The diagnostic and prognostic significance of the Whitely Index, the Illness Attitude Scales and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of the Whitely Index, Illness Attitude Scales and Somatosensory Amplification Scale to differentiate in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms between hypochondriacal and non-hypochondriacal patients and to examine whether the scores on these questionnaires are predictive of long-term outcome in terms of recovery of presenting symptoms and number of visits to the general practitioner. The study population consisted of 183 consecutive patients, who presented with medically unexplained physical symptoms to a general medical out-patient clinic. The Health Anxiety subscale of the Illness Attitude Scales and the Whitely Index were best in discriminating between hypochondriacal and non-hypochondriacal patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the Health Anxiety subscale of the Illness Attitude Scales were 79% and 84%, and of the Whitely Index 87% and 72%. The Whitely Index was negatively associated with recovery rate at 1 year follow-up. The Illness Behaviour subscale of the Illness Attitude Scales appeared to be predictive of the number of visits to the general practitioner. These findings might have clinical implications in helping to distinguish in patients with medically unexplained symptoms those for whom there is a high chance of persistence of the symptoms and/or of high medical care utilization.

Unexplained physical symptoms: outcome, utilization of medical care and associated factors

The aim of the study was to investigate the recovery and frequency of physician contact in patients with unexplained physical symptoms and to identify factors associated with persistent disorder. Of 100 consecutive patients who presented with medically unexplained symptoms to a general medical out-patient clinic, 81 participated in a follow-up study. The mean follow-up time was 15.2 months (S.D. 4.0). At follow-up, many of the patients with unexplained physical symptoms reported that they had recovered (30%) or improved (46%) with regard to their presenting symptoms. Female sex and a high number of symptoms predicted a bad outcome in terms of recovery. Persistence of symptoms was not related to the duration of the symptoms, type of presenting complaint or the presence of psychiatric disorder. Forty per cent of patients with unexplained symptoms did not visit their general practitioner on their own initiative in the year following the initial visit to the clinic. Medical care utilization appeared to be associated with female sex, age, number and duration of symptoms, fatigue and psychiatric disorder, especially somatoform disorders. However, the association of a high frequency of physician contact with female sex and psychiatric disorder was not sustained after controlling for possible confounding factors.

Psychosocial factors and chronic pelvic pain: a comparison of women with endometriosis and with unexplained pain

Chronic pelvic pain is a common clinical problem, and physical investigation often fails to reveal its cause. For this reason, it has been argued that psychological and social factors contribute to such "unexplained" pain. Few studies to date using well-validated psychometric measures and adequate sample sizes have compared patients with unexplained pain and those with identified physical disease. The present study compared pain severity, mood symptoms, personality characteristics and social adjustment in women with unexplained pain and women with endometriosis. Women with endometriosis were more likely to come from upper socioeconomic groups. No differences in mood symptoms or personality characteristics were identified, but women with endometriosis had somewhat more severe pain and greater social dysfunction than those with unexplained pain. Mood disorder and social dysfunction appear to be at least as important in patients with proven endometriosis as in those with unexplained pain.

Psychiatric consultation for somatizing patients in the family practice setting: a feasibility study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of a psychiatric consultation intervention for somatizing patients in the family practice setting in terms of 1) patient compliance, 2) patient satisfaction, and 3) compliance and satisfaction of general practitioners (GPs).

METHOD

In a period of nine months, forty-six patients were selected for psychiatric consultation in six solo family practices in a semi-urban area in the Netherlands. The consultation included an interview with the consulting psychiatrist, the patient, and the GP. A written summary of the consultation was provided to the GP and the patient. A booster session with a GP and psychiatrist was included to evaluate and reinforce the recommendations.

RESULTS

The majority of the selected patients agreed to participate after informed consent. An intervention was implemented containing interpersonal techniques, reattribution, clarification, and structuring. GP compliance with recommendations was 100 percent, patient compliance 75 percent.

CONCLUSION

A standardized psychiatric consultation for somatizing patients in a family practice setting can be implemented. Several levels of implementation can be distinguished.

A validation study of the Whitely Index, the Illness Attitude Scales, and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale in general medical and general practice patients

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Whitely Index (WI), the Illness Attitude Scales (IAS), and the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SAS). The study population consisted of 130 general medical outpatients, 113 general practice patients, and 204 subjects from the general population. The factorial structure of the IAS appeared to consist of two subscales, namely Health Anxiety and Illness Behaviour. The internal consistency and stability of the three questionnaires were satisfactory, and their scores were highly intercorrelated. Scores on the WI and Health Anxiety subscale of the IAS declined significantly from general medical outpatients, through general practice patients to subjects from the general population. This might imply that medical care utilisation is related to hypochondriasis. A prospective study is needed to determine whether health anxiety contributes to the decision to seek medical care or the consultation of a general practitioner or consultant gives rise to worry about possible illness.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in medical inpatients

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in acutely ill medical inpatients. A total of 313 consecutively admitted patients were interviewed using a semistructured psychiatric interview. Diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria during two time periods, the 7 days following admission and the month prior to admission. The results showed that 85 patients (27.2%) received a DSM-IV diagnosis, with several patients having comorbid diagnoses. Major depressive disorder was present in 16 patients (5.1%), most of whom also had major depressive disorder in the month prior to admission. This prevalence rate is above that of the general population (1.2% to 2.8%), but less than that reported in most previous studies (20% to 40%). Forty-three patients (13.7%) had an adjustment disorder, 18 patients (5.8%) had an anxiety disorder, and 17 patients (5.4%) had either alcohol dependence or abuse. Nurses were more proficient than medical staff at identifying patients who had received a DSM-IV diagnosis, recognizing 61% of cases compared with 41% for medical staff.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for medically unexplained physical symptoms: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To examine the additional effect of cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms in comparison with optimised medical care.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial with follow up assessments six and 12 months after the baseline evaluation.

SETTING

General medical outpatient clinic in a university hospital.

SUBJECTS

An intervention group of 39 patients and a control group of 40 patients.

INTERVENTIONS

The intervention group received between six and 16 sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy. Therapeutic techniques used included identification and modification of dysfunctional automatic thoughts and behavioural experiments aimed at breaking the vicious cycles of the symptoms and their consequences. The control group received optimised medical care.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The degree of change, frequency and intensity of the presenting symptoms, psychological distress, functional impairment, hypochondriacal beliefs and attitudes, and (at 12 months of follow up) number of visits to the general practitioner.

RESULTS

At six months of follow up the intervention group reported a higher recovery rate (odds ratio 0.40; 95% confidence interval 0.16 to 1.00), a lower mean intensity of the physical symptoms (difference -1.2; -2.0 to -0.3), and less impairment of sleep (odds ratio 0.38; 0.15 to 0.94) than the controls. After adjustment for coincidental baseline differences the intervention and control groups also differed with regard to frequency of the symptoms (0.32; 0.13 to 0.77), limitations in social (0.35; 0.14 to 0.85) and leisure (0.36; 0.14 to 0.93) activities, and illness behaviour (difference -2.5; -4.6 to -0.5). At 12 months of follow up the differences between the groups were largely maintained.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive behavioural therapy seems to be a feasible and effective treatment in general medical patients with unexplained physical symptoms.

Detecting psychological distress among patients attending secondary health care clinics. Self-report and physician rating

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of psychological distress, as reported by patients and their physicians, in orthopedic, neurology, dermatology, and ophthalmology clinics; to study their accuracy in detecting psychological distress; and to determine if there is any connection among psychological distress, accuracy of detecting distress, and use of mental health and primary health care physicians' prognosis for the somatic complaints. Five hundred and fifty-six patients, ages 18-21, responded to the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview Demoralization Scale (PERI-D), a measure of psychological distress, and to questions about their mental health and use of mental health and primary health services. Physicians, who were blind to patients' responses, were asked to what extent they thought the cause of patients' complaints was physical and to what extent they thought it was psychological in nature, and to prognosticate. Based on the PERI-D, about 25% of patients were distressed, this was less for females than males and varied between clinics. Based on self-reporting, about 14% of patients (males and females) were distressed. Based on physician reporting, about 17% (males less) were distressed. Physicians identified 35% of the PERI-D-distressed cases and 79% of nondistressed cases. About 66% of patients identified their distress and 83% their lack of distress. Increased use of primary health care and mental health care was related to distress. The prognosis was negatively related to distress. Based on this study, there is a need for more attention to psychological distress among secondary health care patients. Patients' ability to identify their distress suggests the importance of involving the patient in the diagnostic process. Correct detection of distress alone does not appear to decrease the use of primary medical and mental health services.

Psychiatry in the allergy clinic: the nature and management of patients with non-allergic symptoms

Patients with multiple unexplained somatic symptoms attributed to allergy frequently present to physicians and often the physician fails to find evidence for allergic or immunological mechanisms underlying the presenting symptoms. This article discusses the social and cultural background to this disorder. We then consider current explanatory models for symptoms and finally, we consider appropriate management, starting with the initial consultation, the identification of psychiatric disorders when present, and concluding with suggestions for subsequent treatment and guidance on appropriate referral.

Detecting psychiatric disorders in medical practice using the General Health Questionnaire. Why do cut-off scores vary?

In this study we assessed the accuracy of the General Health Questionnaire in detecting psychiatric disorders in general medical out-patients. A total of 290 newly referred patients were interviewed with the Present State Examination. Prior to the interview, 112 patients completed the full GHQ-60, 100 completed the GHQ-30 and 78 completed the GHQ-12. Data from the first group were used to study the full GHQ-60, together with the GHQ-30 and and GHQ-12, when disembedded from the full questionnaire. In a comparison between the disembedded and the separate versions of the GHQ-30 and GHQ-12 we observed considerable variation in the cut-off scores where a certain sensitivity and specificity was attained. In ROC-analysis, the versions were not materially different in their discriminatory capacity (area under the curve). The use of different criteria to define a 'case' demonstrated that case severity was another source of increasing cut-off scores. Our data demonstrate that the use of disembedded or separate versions of the questionnaire, together with variation in the case criteria can be a major explanation for variation in cut-off scores that was observed in previous studies.

Somatisation in neurological practice

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Recurrent brief depression in general practice. Clinical features, comorbidity with other disorders, and need for treatment

This study tested the clinical validity of the new diagnostic entity "recurrent brief depression" (RBD) in 300 general practice patients who participated in the WHO study on "Psychological Problems in Primary Care." Patients with current RBD reported of episodes major depression more often than did a comparison group of nondepressed general practice patients: however, the majority of RBD patients had not received a diagnostic of any well-established affective disorder during the last 12 months. RBD patients (without MDE) did not suffer more frequently from dysthymia, from nonaffective psychiatric disorders, or from somatic disorders. However, RBD was associated with a higher percentage of previous suicide attempts and of ideation of suicide and death. RBD was accompanied by substantial psychosocial impairment; psychosocial impairment in RBD patients could not be explained by excess comorbidity. Thus, the clinical validity of RBD was demonstrated although doubts about the appropriateness of the definition remained. This new diagnostic category needs more attention as only as small minority of patients with RBD received specific antidepressant treatment.