Alexithymia, hypochondriacal beliefs, and psychological distress among frequent attenders in primary health care

Jyväsjärvi, Simo; Joukamaa, Matti; Väisänen, Erkki; Larivaara, Pekka; Kivelä, Sirkka‐Liisa; Keinänen‐Kiukaanniemi, Sirkka

doi:10.1016/s0010-440x(99)90130-x

Cited by 30 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Some studies found a significant relationship between alexithymia and increased health care utilization [29][30][31]. However, it was suggested that distinct features of alexithymia may yield different effects on illness behavior, with difficulties in identifying feelings and externally-oriented thinking being significantly associated with increased and decreased use of outpatient medical treatments, respectively [32].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alexithymia in the medically ill. Analysis of 1190 patients in gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology and dermatology

Porcelli

Guidi

Sirri

et al. 2013

General Hospital Psychiatry

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alexithymia in the medically ill. Analysis of 1190 patients in gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology and dermatology

Porcelli

Guidi

Sirri

et al. 2013

General Hospital Psychiatry

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“…Jyvasjarvi et al [61] studied hypochondriasis and alexithymia in FAs, finding more hypochondriacal attitudes but no greater alexithymia compared to controls. Porcelli and De Carne [25] have reported that the DCPR alexithymia criteria may have lower sensitivity than the TAS-20 (the instrument used by Jyvasjarvi et al [61] to assess alexithymia). However, the claim of lower sensitivity is inconsistent with differences between FAs and controls in the prevalence of DCPR alexithymia in the current study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Impact of Medical, Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Diagnoses

Ferrari

Galeazzi

Mackinnon

et al. 2008

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: Anxiety, mild depression and somatization are common in primary care (PC). Several studies have suggested that they may play a role in causing an excessive use of health care services, especially when combined with medical morbidity. The present case-control study explored how psychiatric and psychosomatic diagnoses and perceived quality of life are associated with the phenomenon of frequent attendance. Method: Fifty most frequent attenders (FAs) in a 1-year period at a PC clinic in Italy were compared with 50 randomly selected average frequency attenders at the same clinic. Sociodemographic and medical data were collected from PC files. The SCID-brief version for research and the Structured Interview for Diagnostic Criteria for Use in Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) were administered to both patient groups. Quality of life was also assessed. Results: FA status was associated with being female, older, less well educated, and living with their spouses and/or children. Medical-psychiatric comorbidity was more frequent in the FA group than in the control group. The median number of psychosomatic-DCPR syndromes per patient was 4 among FAs compared to only 1 in controls. Functional somatic symptoms secondary to a psychiatric disorder, type A behavior, irritable mood, and demoralization were significantly associated with being an FA. Perceived quality of life was significantly lower among FAs, although this was no longer significant after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Conclusions: The present study confirms the association between medical-psychiatric comorbidity and frequent utilization of PC resources. It suggests a role for DCPR criteria in revealing subthreshold psychiatric comorbidity predicting a pattern of frequent attendance.

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“…Another problematic issue is defining the number of consultations required for a patient to be considered a frequent attender. A Swedish study set the cut-off point at 5 or more consultations per year (5), whereas a Finnish study set it to 8 or 11 per year or upper 10% or 5% of total number of consultations (5,6). Defining the follow up time is also a problem, as well as finding a unique name for frequent attenders.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Preschool Children as Frequent Attenders in Primary Health Care in Croatia: Retrospective Study

et al. 2007

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Aim To define predictive factors for frequent attenders among preschool children in primary health care and investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and medical factors, as well as the reasons for child's appointment in the physician's office.Methods This retrospective study was conducted in 7 primary health care offices (6 family physician practices and 1 pediatric practice) in Zagreb, Croatia. The study included 964 preschool children from 1-6 years who visited these practices during 2005. Children in the highest quartile of consultation frequency (n = 255) were defined as frequent attenders, while the children in the lowest quartile of consultation frequency (n = 302) represented the control group (non-frequent attenders). We collected data on consultation rate, socioeconomic factors, health care providers, prescriptions and referrals, symptoms, and diagnoses. Association of the parameters and the frequency of consultations was investigated by logistic regression analysis.Results Frequent attenders sought for consultations 10 times per year (median, range 4-26), and they had the following characteristics: had 2-3 years, attended day care center, were treated by a pediatrician, and received more prescriptions and referrals. Their major complaints were: cough, nasal discharge, rash, fever, difficult breathing, earache, digestive problems, throat soreness, and injuries. Logistic regression analysis showed significant association between frequent attendance and age of 2-3, the symptom of nasal discharge, and diagnoses of infectious and parasitic diseases, middle ear diseases, respiratory system diseases, and skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases.Conclusion Socioeconomic characteristics, symptoms, and diagnoses were important predictors for defining preschool frequent attenders in primary health care.

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Alexithymia, hypochondriacal beliefs, and psychological distress among frequent attenders in primary health care

Cited by 30 publications

References 36 publications

Alexithymia in the medically ill. Analysis of 1190 patients in gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology and dermatology

Alexithymia in the medically ill. Analysis of 1190 patients in gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology and dermatology

Frequent Attenders in Primary Care: Impact of Medical, Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Diagnoses

Preschool Children as Frequent Attenders in Primary Health Care in Croatia: Retrospective Study

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