Somatic symptom disorder: A cross-sectional prevalence study in patients attending the General Medicine out patient department of a tertiary care hospital

Somatic symptom disorders are amongst the commonest mental health disorders in primary care settings, with prevalence rates of between 16.1% and 22.3%. They are commonly associated with anxiety and depression. Somatoform disorder symptoms are constant and persistent, often more so than major medical illnesses, and they are less likely to resolve easily. The present cross-sectional study was conducted after due institutional ethical clearance amongst 400 patients attending General Medicine OPD. Demographic and phenomenological data was collected using semi structured proforma and following 3 scales were administered; Patient Health Questionnaire – 15, Patient Health Questionnaire – 9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire – 7. The data collected was subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. In our study, an overwhelming 39% of patients had significant somatization of which 57% of them were diagnosed as having somatic symptom disorder. 37% of study population had significant depressive symptoms of which 74% were females. 16% of them suffered from anxiety of which 61% of them were females. Our research indicates high prevalence of somatic symptom disorder and of medically unexplained somatic symptoms in the medicine outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. It is fundamental for both physicians and psychiatrists to recognize these presentations for proper management. Deficiencies in such understanding, may lead to patients not being treated efficiently by either discipline.