title: Characteristics of oligosymptomatic versus polysymptomatic presentations of somatoform disorders in patients with suspected allergies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychobehavioral characteristics of patients with somatoform disorders (SFDs), are increasingly discussed as possible positive criteria for this diagnostic group. However, little is known about psychobehavioral differences, or similarities, between the different SFD presentations, i.e., polysymptomatic [multisomatoform/somatization disorders (MSD)] versus mono- or oligosymptomatic courses [pain disorder (PD), undifferentiated somatoform disorder (USD)].
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study including 268 consecutive allergology inpatients. After an Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, patients completed several self-rating questionnaires. Results were compared within the different SFD presentations as well as between patients with versus without SFDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 72 patients with an SFD. There were fewer and smaller psychobehavioral differences within patients with the different SFD presentations (MSD, USDs, PDs) than between patients with undifferentiated versus no SFD. Patients with one of the three different SFD subdiagnoses scored similarly on many measures referring to psychosocial distress (e.g., psychological distress, mental health-related quality of life, dissatisfaction with care). The number of reported symptoms, somatic symptom severity, a self-concept of bodily weakness, the degree of disease conviction, and physical health-related quality of life discriminated the different SFD presentations not only from patients without SFDs but also from each other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients diagnosed with one of the different SFD subtypes share many psychobehavioral characteristics, mostly regarding the reporting of psychosocial distress. Perceived somatic symptom severity and physical impairment as indicators of bodily distress could either further define categorical subdivisions of SFD or dimensionally graduate one general SFD category defined by bothering bodily symptoms and disproportionate psychosocial distress.
authors: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Langerstrasse 3, Munich, Germany. c.hausteiner@lrz.tum.de
authors: Constanze
authors: C
authors: Hausteiner
authors: Dorothea
authors: D
authors: Huber
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Bornschein
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Grosber
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Bubel
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Groben
authors: Claas
authors: C
authors: Lahmann
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Löwe
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Eyer
authors: Bernadette
authors: B
authors: Eberlein
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Ring
authors: Heidrun
authors: H
authors: Behrendt
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Darsow
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Henningsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires