Cognitive and behavioral factors of quality of life in patients with somatoform disorders

Abstract

IntroductionStudies of the cognitive and behavioral factors of perpetuation and quality of life in patients with somatoform disorders are important for identifying targets for psychological interventions and risk groups (Piontek et al., 2018, Dehoust et al., 2017, Schaefer et al., 2012, Flasinski et al., 2020).ObjectivesTo reveal beliefs and behavior in patients with somatoform disorders associated severity of somatic complaints and poorer subjective well-being.Methods125 patients with somatoform disorders 17-68 years old filled Screening for Somatoform Symptoms (Rief, Hiller, 2003), Cognitions About Body And Health Questionnaire (Rief et al., 1998), Scale for the Assessment of Illness Behaviour (Rief, Ihle, Pigler, 2003), and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnairie-18 (Ritsner et al., 2005).ResultsSeverity of somatoform symptoms is higher in patients with catastrophization of bodily sensations, autonomic sensations, belief in their bodily weakness, somatosensory amplification, scanning for bodily symptoms, and disturbances in daily activities due to illness (r=.18-.38, p<.05). Adjusting for the severity of somatoform symptoms, subjective well-being was lower in patients with higher belief in their bodily weakness and somatosensory amplification, autonomic sensations, expression of symptoms, and changes in daily activities due to illness (r=.21-.40, p<.05).ConclusionsThe results suggests that regardless of symptoms severity poorer quality of life in patients with somatoform disorders is associated with beliefs about body and body perception that could be addressed in psychotherapy.

Quality of Life and Its Psychosocial Predictors among Patients with Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction: A Comparison with Age- and Sex-Matched Controls

“…These emotional regulation strategies may mediate the association between DGBI symptoms and (dys)functional emotional responses [59], subsequently leading to a lower (as in the case of expressive suppression) or higher (as in the case of cognitive reappraisal) QoL. As for somatosensory amplification, our results were in accordance with previous-yet scarce-literature on this topic, e.g., [60]. SSA has been defined as "the amplification of various types of perceived threats to the integrity of the body" [61]: one could argue that patients with DGBIs with active functional GI symptoms may experience to a greater extent health anxiety and worries, which then diminishes their QoL.…”