Somatization is associated with physical health-related quality of life independent of anxiety and depression in cancer, glaucoma and rheumatological disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To test the relative importance of anxiety, depression and somatization as correlates of physical health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in several chronic physical disorders.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study of patients with colorectal cancer (N = 162), glaucoma (N = 100), rheumatoid arthritis (N = 168), systemic sclerosis (N = 56) and systemic lupus erythematosus (N = 56), we assessed specific disease severity and used the Symptom Distress Checklist (SCL-90) for psychologic dimensions. Outcome was assessed with the WHO Quality of Life Instrument, Short Form using hierarchical regression to determine independent correlates of HRQOL.


RESULTS
After adjustment for demographic features, stage of cancer and pain (final models), the SCL-90 somatization score was the only psychologic distress covariate significantly correlated to physical HRQOL in all diseases (Betas between -0.33 and -0.49) except in systemic sclerosis and scleroderma, where depression was also a correlate. In glaucoma patients, the SCL-90 somatization score was the only significant covariate for physical HRQOL in the final model.


CONCLUSIONS
Since reported number of bodily symptoms is both associated with physical HRQOL and treatable in its own right, our findings suggest a possible new avenue to improve the HRQOL in patients with chronic physical disease. Whether this offers greater benefit than treatments for anxiety and depression needs further research.
Hyphantis
Thomas
T
Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. tyfantis@cc.uoi.gr
Tomenson
Barbara
B
Paika
Vassiliki
V
Almyroudi
Augoustina
A
Pappa
Chrisavgi
C
Tsifetaki
Niki
N
Voulgari
Paraskevi V
PV
Drosos
Alexandros A
AA
Pavlidis
Nicholas
N
Creed
Francis
F
D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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