Do Somatic Symptoms Predict the Severity of Depression? A Validation Study of the Korean Version of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale.
This study aimed at exploring the psychometric characteristics of the Korean Version of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS) in a clinical sample, and investigating the impact of somatic symptoms on the severity of depression. Participants were 203 consecutive outpatients with current major depressive disorders (MDD) or lifetime diagnosis of MDD. The DSSS was compared with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the 17-items Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). The DSSS showed a two-factor structure that accounted for 56.8% of the variance, as well as excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95), concurrent validity (r = 0.44-0.82), and temporal stability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.79). The DSSS had a high ability to identify patients in non-remission (area under receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve = 0.887). Maximal discrimination between remission and non-full remission was obtained at a cut-off score of 22 (sensitivity = 82.1%, specificity = 81.4%). The number of somatic symptoms (the range of somatic symptoms) and the scores on the somatic subscale (SS, the severity of somatic symptoms) in non-remission patients were greater than those in remission patients. The number of somatic symptoms (slope = 0.148) and the SS score (slope = 0.472) were confirmed as excellent predictors of the depression severity as indicated by the MADRS scores. The findings indicate that the DSSS is a useful tool for simultaneously, rapidly, and accurately measuring depression and somatic symptoms in clinical practice settings and in consultation fields.
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
Sang Won
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7828-3296
SW
Jeon
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
Seo Young
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3775-5848
SY
Yoon
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea. koyh@korea.ac.kr.
Young Hoon
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5352-2158
YH
Ko
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Sook Haeng
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2316-0691
SH
Joe
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
Yong Ku
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5694-7840
YK
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
Changsu
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4021-8907
C
Han
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
Ho Kyoung
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1497-8416
HK
Yoon
Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chia Yih
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7250-0720
CY
Liu
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000071896:Medically Unexplained Symptoms; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations
Cut-off Score; Depression; Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale; Psychometrics; Somatic Symptoms; Validation