title: Attributions of common somatic symptoms.
abstract: Three studies explored the causal attributions of common somatic symptoms. The first two studies established the reliability and validity of a measure of attributional style, the Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire (SIQ). Three dimensions of causal attribution were confirmed: psychological, somatic and normalizing. The third study examined the antecedents and consequences of attributional style in a sample of family medicine patients. Medical and psychiatric history differentially influenced attributional style. Past history and attributional style independently influenced clinical presentations over the subsequent 6 months. Symptom attributional style may contribute to the somatization and psychologization of distress in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kirmayer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*