Somatisation of Symptoms in the Geriatric Population of Mangalore City (A Cross Sectional Study)
Study on Somatisation Of Symptoms In The Geriatric Population
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70284/njirm.v4i5.2221Keywords:
geriatric psychiatry, sleep disturbance, Head acheAbstract
Aim & Objectives: This cross sectional study was conducted to bring out a better understanding of the link between somatic symptoms and underlying psychiatric conditions in geriatric population of Mangalore city. Material and methods: 200 subjects with the age above 50 years in the outpatient department of hospitals, except the psychiatry wards, and consist of a face to face interview using the standard HADS scale. Result: A total of 105 males and 95 females were interviewed during the study period. The HAD scores of the patients were noted. It was found that in the anxiety sub-scale of the HADS scale 79(39.50%) patients scored less than 8 ('normal') 29(14.50%) scored between 8 and 11 ('borderline abnormal') and 92(46%) patients scored more than 11 ( 'abnormal'). In the depression sub-scale of the HADS scale 79(39.50%) scored less than 8('normal') and 34(17%) scored between 8 and 11('borderline abnormal') and 87(43.50%) scored more than 11('abnormal').In the combined score,71(35.5%) scored less than 8('normal') 54(27%) scored between 16 to 22('borderline abnormal') 75(37.50%) scored more than 22('abnormal'). Among those who were borderline abnormal and abnormal on the HADS scale, it was found that somatic manifestations of underlying depression was found in 64.21% women and 63.81% men. The chief complaints of these patients mostly included dizziness(10.85%), GI symptoms (10.85%), headache(18.60%), menopausal symptoms(17.05%), sleep disturbances (18.60%), general malaise(14.73%) others(9.30%). Conclusion: The present study suggested that somatic symptoms could be due to an underlying psychiatric condition(depression). The patients might present with complain of dizziness, GI symptoms, headache, menopausal symptoms, sleep disturbances, general malaise. While examining a patient, the psychological well-being of the patient should be assessed too. Ageing is another important aspect, and aging patients are more prone to somatisation. This should be kept in consideration while examining a patient.
References
and its clinical application". Am J
Psychiatry 145 (11): 1358–68.2. Katon, Kleinman& Rosen,1982Katon, W., Kleinman, A. and Rosen, G. 1982. Depression and somatisation : A review. I & II. American Journal of Medicine 72: 127-135 and 241-247.
3. Goldberg DP, Bridges K. Somatic presentations of psychiatric illness in primary care setting. J Psychosom Res 1988; 32:137-144.
4. Bridges KW, Goldberg DP. Somatic presentations of DSM III psychiatric disorders in primary care. J Psychosom Res 1985;29:563-569
5. Escobar JI, Golding JM, Hough RL, Karno M, Burnam MA, Wells KB. Somatisation in the community: relationship to disability and use of services. Am J Public Health 1987;77:837-840
6. Lipowski ZJ. Somatisation: the experience and communication of psychological distress as somatic symptoms. PsychotherPsychosom 1987;47:160-167
7. Simon GE, VonKorff M. Somatisation and psychiatric disorder in the NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. Am J Psychiatry 1991;148:1494-1500
8. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, et al. Physical symptoms in primary care: predictors of psychiatric disorders and functional impairment. Arch Fam Med 1994;3:774-779
9. Barsky AJ. Amplification, somatisation, and the somatoform disorders. Psychosomatics1992;33:28-34
10. Nemiah JC. A reconsideration of psychological specificity in psychosomatic disorders.PsychotherPsychosom 1982;38:39-45
11. Lesser IM. Current concepts in psychiatry: alexithymia. N Engl J Med 1985;312:690-692
12. Kleinman AM. Depression, somatisation and the “new cross-cultural psychiatry†SocSci Med 1977;11:3-10
13. Hunter, r. C. A. 1979. Psychoanalysis, somatisation and psychosomatic disease. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 24:383-390.
14. In D. Mechanic, ed., Symptoms,Illness Behavior and Help-Seeking. New York: Neale Watson, pp. 55-86.
15. http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/
16. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/ageingdefnolder/en/index.html
17. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Primary care version.
Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1995.
18. The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioral disorders: clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1992.
19. Depression Guideline Panel. Depression in primary care. Vol. 1. Detection and diagnosis. Clinical practice guideline. No. 5. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 1993. (AHCPR publication no. 93-0550.)
20. Kleinman A. Neurasthenia and depression: a study of somatisation and culture in China. Cult Med Psychiatry 1982;6:117-190
21. Pfeiffer W. The symptomatology of depression viewed transculturally. Transcult Psychiatry Res Rev 1968; 5:121-124.
22. An International Study of the Relation between Somatic Symptoms and Depression Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H., Michael VonKorff, Sc.D., Marco Piccinelli, Ph.D., Claudio Fullerton, M.D., and Johan Ormel, Ph.D.
23. Cadoret, R., Widmer, R. B. and Troughton, E. P. 1980. Somatic complaints: Harbinger of depression in primary care. Journal of Affective Disorders 2:61-70.
24. Petronella J.[29] (Nelleke) van't Veer-Tazelaara, b, Harm W.J. van Marwijka, b, Aaltje P.D. (Daniëlle) Jansena, b, Frank Rijmenc, Pieter J. Kostensec, Patricia van Oppena, b, d, Hein P.J. van Houta, b, Wim A.B. Stalmana, b and Aartjan T.F. Beekmand (Depression in old age (75+), the PIKO study.
25. Cheung, F. M. 1982. Psychological symptoms among Chinese in urban Hong Kong. Social Science and Medecine 16:1339-1344.Cheung, F. M., LAU, B. W. K. and Waldmann, E. 1981. Somatisation among Chinese depressives in general practice. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 10:361-374.
26. Subjective Body Complaints as an Indicator of Somatisation in Elderly Patients Gudrun Schneider, M.D., Michael Wachter, Ph.D., Georg Driesch, M.D., Andreas Kruse, Ph.D., Hans-Georg Nehen, M.D., and GereonHeuft, M.D. Psychosomatics 44:91-99, April 2003.
