Short-term psychotherapeutic interventions for somatizing patients in the general hospital: a randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Treatment acceptance and motivation for psychotherapy of somatizing patients in the general hospital is low.


METHODS
Patients (n = 91) fulfilling the criteria for somatization were randomized into an intervention group (n = 49) and a control group (n = 42). The patients in the intervention group attended 5 psychotherapeutic sessions based on the modified reattribution model. The patients in the control group received psychoeducational reading material. The primary outcomes were motivation for psychotherapy and contacting a psychotherapist after discharge. The secondary outcomes consisted of changes regarding somatoform symptoms, emotional distress and quality of life.


RESULTS
Patients from the intervention group were significantly more motivated for psychotherapy (p = 0.001) than patients from the control group. At the 3-month follow-up, 42% of the patients from the intervention group had contacted a psychotherapist, compared to 20% of the patients from the control group (p = 0.045). At the 6-month follow-up, however, the ratio of patients having contacted a psychotherapist had changed to 44 and 29%, respectively, and was no longer significant. The intensity of somatoform symptoms and the anxiety symptoms decreased and mental functioning improved significantly over time for patients from both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term psychotherapeutic interventions for somatizing patients in general hospitals have a moderately better effect on motivation for psychotherapy and contacting a psychotherapist than psychoeducational reading material alone. Future studies should attempt to prove the effectiveness of short-term psychoeducational interventions for somatizing patients in the general hospital.
Schweickhardt
Axel
A
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Larisch
Astrid
A
Wirsching
Michael
M
Fritzsche
Kurt
K
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*