Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic
Objective: This study examines the prevalence and comorbidities of somatoform disorders in a rural setting with a diverse ethnic population. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted of active psychiatric outpatients in a clinic located in a rural community. Data abstracted included demogra...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2150131910383579 |
| _version_ | 1828266591092998144 |
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| author | Bernardo Ng MD Lianne M. Tomfohr MS Al Camacho MD Joel E. Dimsdale MD |
| author_facet | Bernardo Ng MD Lianne M. Tomfohr MS Al Camacho MD Joel E. Dimsdale MD |
| author_sort | Bernardo Ng MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This study examines the prevalence and comorbidities of somatoform disorders in a rural setting with a diverse ethnic population. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted of active psychiatric outpatients in a clinic located in a rural community. Data abstracted included demographic variables, multi-axial diagnoses (DSM-IV-TR), length of treatment, psychotropic medications, and number of medications discontinued because of side effects. Improvement in level of function with treatment was measured by change in global assessment of functioning (GAF) scores. Results: Of 737 records reviewed, 37 (5%) contained a diagnosis of somatoform disorder. The most common comorbidities in the somatoform group were depression ( P < .01), hypertension ( P < .01), and arthritis ( P < .05). The somatoform group was significantly more likely to have a chronic medical illness ( P < .01) and history of surgeries ( P < .05). The somatoform group patients’ ΔGAF was one fourth the ΔGAF scores in all other psychiatric outpatients (1.41 vs 6.79, P < .01). The somatoform group changed medications more often because of side effects (1.35 times vs 0.71 times, P < .01), received a greater number of psychotropic medications (2.05 vs 1.62, P < .05), and was more likely to be taking an antidepressant ( P < .05) than the nonsomatoform group. Conclusion: Somatoform disorder patients had a higher prevalence of depression, chronic medical conditions, and surgeries. They responded less favorably to treatment when compared to patients without a somatoform disorder, and manifested a decreased tolerance to medication side effects. Female gender, fewer years of education, and Latino ethnicity did not increase the probability of having a somatoform disorder. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:55:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4136c086bd2d47b2a107412da528a037 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-1319 2150-1327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:55:08Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4136c086bd2d47b2a107412da528a0372022-12-22T03:01:31ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Primary Care & Community Health2150-13192150-13272011-01-01210.1177/2150131910383579Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric ClinicBernardo Ng MD0Lianne M. Tomfohr MS1Al Camacho MD2Joel E. Dimsdale MD3 Sun Valley Research Center, Imperial, CA, USA San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA Sun Valley Research Center, Imperial, CA, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USAObjective: This study examines the prevalence and comorbidities of somatoform disorders in a rural setting with a diverse ethnic population. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted of active psychiatric outpatients in a clinic located in a rural community. Data abstracted included demographic variables, multi-axial diagnoses (DSM-IV-TR), length of treatment, psychotropic medications, and number of medications discontinued because of side effects. Improvement in level of function with treatment was measured by change in global assessment of functioning (GAF) scores. Results: Of 737 records reviewed, 37 (5%) contained a diagnosis of somatoform disorder. The most common comorbidities in the somatoform group were depression ( P < .01), hypertension ( P < .01), and arthritis ( P < .05). The somatoform group was significantly more likely to have a chronic medical illness ( P < .01) and history of surgeries ( P < .05). The somatoform group patients’ ΔGAF was one fourth the ΔGAF scores in all other psychiatric outpatients (1.41 vs 6.79, P < .01). The somatoform group changed medications more often because of side effects (1.35 times vs 0.71 times, P < .01), received a greater number of psychotropic medications (2.05 vs 1.62, P < .05), and was more likely to be taking an antidepressant ( P < .05) than the nonsomatoform group. Conclusion: Somatoform disorder patients had a higher prevalence of depression, chronic medical conditions, and surgeries. They responded less favorably to treatment when compared to patients without a somatoform disorder, and manifested a decreased tolerance to medication side effects. Female gender, fewer years of education, and Latino ethnicity did not increase the probability of having a somatoform disorder.https://doi.org/10.1177/2150131910383579 |
| spellingShingle | Bernardo Ng MD Lianne M. Tomfohr MS Al Camacho MD Joel E. Dimsdale MD Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| title | Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic |
| title_full | Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic |
| title_short | Prevalence and Comorbidities of Somatoform Disorders in a Rural California Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic |
| title_sort | prevalence and comorbidities of somatoform disorders in a rural california outpatient psychiatric clinic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2150131910383579 |
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