title: Somatic symptoms scale: Psychometric properties in clinical and normal sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a Somatic Symptoms Scale based on the criteria of standard symptoms, and to examine its psychometric properties through exploratory factor analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted from January, 2010 to May, 2011 at two teaching hospitals in Lahore city and comprised female adolescents with somatic symptoms diagnosed by a psychiatrist, and an equal number of adolescents with minor physical disability. All patients were recruited from psychiatric out-door units of different hospitals. All subjects were unmarried. Translated Urdu version of the Somatic Symptoms Scale was administered to each participant individually. They were instructed to read the scale carefully and select the response that was most appropriate. The assessment procedure was done in a separate room on the hospital premises.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 150 female adolescents with somatic symptoms and equal number of females with minor disability. The overall mean age was 15.50+/-1.67 years (range: 14-17 years).Exploratory factor analysis showed that the two groups were significantly different on conversion motor symptoms (p<0.001), conversion sensory symptoms (p<0.001), pain symptoms (p<0.001), hypochondriacal symptoms (p<0.001) and body dysmorphic symptoms (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Somatic Symptoms Scale was found to be a valid and reliable measure which can be used as screening instrument for non-clinical population and as a diagnostic measure in clinical population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Psychology, Queen Mary College, Lahore.
authors.forename: Fauzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Psychology, University of Punjab, Lahore.
authors.forename: Rukhsana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kausar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D000071896:Medically Unexplained Symptoms; D000068079:Motor Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Somatic symptoms disorder, Exploratory factor analysis, Criterion validity.