Psychosocial Characteristics and Associated Factors of Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study
10.22722/KJPM.2025.33.2.101
- Author:
Han-Yee GI
1
;
Young-Hoon KO
;
Saim JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Articles
- From:Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
2025;33(2):101-108
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:：This study aimed to evaluate the psychosocial characteristics of patients with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and to identify factors associated with its diagnosis.
Methods:：Adult outpatients who visited the Department of Psychiatry at a university hospital between November 2021 and November 2024 were included. SSD was diagnosed through structured clinical interviews conducted by psychiatrists based on DSM-5 criteria. Somatic and psychosocial characteristics were assessed using validated self-report instruments, including the Somatic Symptom Disorder–B Criteria Scale (SSD-12), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (DUFSS), Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), EQ-5D-5L, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life–Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Group differences were examined using independent t-tests and chisquare tests. Multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, marital status, and occupation were performed to identify factors associated with SSD diagnosis.
Results:：Of the 242 participants, 78 (32.2%) were diagnosed with SSD. Compared with the non-SSD group, patients with SSD showed higher levels of depression and anxiety, more pronounced alexithymic traits, and greater perceived pain intensity, along with lower levels of social support and quality of life. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, moderate-to-severe anxiety, alexithymic traits, higher pain intensity, and lower perceived social support were independently associated with SSD diagnosis.
Conclusions:：SSD is characterized by distinct psychosocial features beyond somatic symptom burden. Thesefindings highlight the importance of a comprehensive clinical approach that assesses emotional distress, difficultiesin emotion recognition and expression, subjective pain intensity, and perceived social support, in addition to somatic symptoms, for the evaluation and management of patients with SSD.
