Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Ladwig, K.-H. Articles by Gündel, H. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Ladwig, K.-H. Articles by Gündel, H. Syndromes Secondary to General Medical Disorders

Identifying Somatization Disorder in a Population-Based Health Examination Survey

Psychosocial Burden and Gender Differences

Received April 2, 2001; revised July 31, 2001; accepted August 20, 2001. From the Institut und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin, Med. Psychologie und Psychotherapie des Klinikums Rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München; and the GSF—Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, München-Neuherberg, Munich, Germany. Address reprint requests to Dr. Ladwig, Institut u. Poliklinik für Psychosomatische, Medizin, Psychotherapie u. Med. Psychologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar der TUM, Langerstrasse 3, 81675 München, Germany. E-mail: ladwig{at}gsf.de

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 (P0.0001) and suffered from higher levels of emotional stress (P0.0001) 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 (P0.004). 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.

Key Words: Somatization Disorder • Gender Differences • Quality of Life

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Hasin and H. Katz Somatoform and Substance Use Disorders Psychosom Med, November 1, 2007; 69(9): 870 - 875. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Avila Somatization or psychosomatic symptoms? Psychosomatics, March 1, 2006; 47(2): 163 - 166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2001 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us