Psychological and interactional characteristics of patients with somatoform disorders: Validation of the Somatic Symptoms Experiences Questionnaire (SSEQ) in a clinical psychosomatic population

TY - JOUR

T1 - Psychological and interactional characteristics of patients with somatoform disorders: Validation of the Somatic Symptoms Experiences Questionnaire (SSEQ) in a clinical psychosomatic population

AU - Herzog, Annabel

AU - Voigt, Katharina

AU - Meyer, Björn

AU - Wollburg, Eileen

AU - Weinmann, Nina

AU - Langs, Gernot

AU - Löwe, Bernd

N1 - Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/6/12

Y1 - 2015/6/12

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The new DSM-5 Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) emphasizes the importance of psychological processes related to somatic symptoms in patients with somatoform disorders. To address this, the Somatic Symptoms Experiences Questionnaire (SSEQ), the first self-report scale that assesses a broad range of psychological and interactional characteristics relevant to patients with a somatoform disorder or SSD, was developed. This prospective study was conducted to validate the SSEQ.METHODS: The 15-item SSEQ was administered along with a battery of self-report questionnaires to psychosomatic inpatients. Patients were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV to confirm a somatoform, depressive, or anxiety disorder. Confirmatory factor analyses, tests of internal consistency and tests of validity were performed.RESULTS: Patients (n=262) with a mean age of 43.4years, 60.3% women, were included in the analyses. The previously observed four-factor model was replicated and internal consistency was good (Cronbach's α=.90). Patients with a somatoform disorder had significantly higher scores on the SSEQ (t=4.24, p<.001) than patients with a depressive/anxiety disorder. Construct validity was shown by high correlations with other instruments measuring related constructs. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that the questionnaire predicted health-related quality of life. Sensitivity to change was shown by significantly higher effect sizes of the SSEQ change scores for improved patients than for patients without improvement.CONCLUSION: The SSEQ appears to be a reliable, valid, and efficient instrument to assess a broad range of psychological and interactional features related to the experience of somatic symptoms.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The new DSM-5 Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) emphasizes the importance of psychological processes related to somatic symptoms in patients with somatoform disorders. To address this, the Somatic Symptoms Experiences Questionnaire (SSEQ), the first self-report scale that assesses a broad range of psychological and interactional characteristics relevant to patients with a somatoform disorder or SSD, was developed. This prospective study was conducted to validate the SSEQ.METHODS: The 15-item SSEQ was administered along with a battery of self-report questionnaires to psychosomatic inpatients. Patients were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV to confirm a somatoform, depressive, or anxiety disorder. Confirmatory factor analyses, tests of internal consistency and tests of validity were performed.RESULTS: Patients (n=262) with a mean age of 43.4years, 60.3% women, were included in the analyses. The previously observed four-factor model was replicated and internal consistency was good (Cronbach's α=.90). Patients with a somatoform disorder had significantly higher scores on the SSEQ (t=4.24, p<.001) than patients with a depressive/anxiety disorder. Construct validity was shown by high correlations with other instruments measuring related constructs. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that the questionnaire predicted health-related quality of life. Sensitivity to change was shown by significantly higher effect sizes of the SSEQ change scores for improved patients than for patients without improvement.CONCLUSION: The SSEQ appears to be a reliable, valid, and efficient instrument to assess a broad range of psychological and interactional features related to the experience of somatic symptoms.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.03.004

DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.03.004

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 25840951

VL - 78

SP - 553

EP - 562

JO - J PSYCHOSOM RES

JF - J PSYCHOSOM RES

SN - 0022-3999

IS - 6

ER -