title: Screening of somatization disorder: validation of the Spanish version of the Othmer and DeSouza test.
abstract: The objective of this study was to validate the Spanish version of the Othmer and DeSouza Screening Test for Somatization Disorder. We have designed a validity study using the Standardized Polyvalent Psychiatric Interview, an instrument specifically designed to diagnose psychiatric morbidity in medical settings as the 'golden rule'. The control group displayed 'functional' and 'presenting' somatization. The Othmer and DeSouza Screening Test, with a threshold of three symptoms, shows 88% sensitivity, 78% specificity and a misclassification rate of 17%. It is concluded that Othmer and DeSouza's screening test, with a threshold of three symptoms, is a useful tool for the diagnosis of somatization disorder in medical and primary care settings in Spain. Discrepancies with US findings are discussed on a cross-cultural basis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García-Campayo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanz-Carrillo
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Perez-Echeverria
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology