Abstract
Background
Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are characterized by the existence of multiple persistent functional somatic symptoms.
Not many patients fulfilling the criteria for an FSS, receive a formal diagnosis, and it is unknown which factors explain
this discrepancy. Patients that tend to worry and patients that gather more health information may have an increased chance
of an FSS diagnosis. We hypothesized that high intelligence and high neuroticism increase the probability of an FSS diagnosis
in patients with persistent functional somatic symptoms.
Not many patients fulfilling the criteria for an FSS, receive a formal diagnosis, and it is unknown which factors explain
this discrepancy. Patients that tend to worry and patients that gather more health information may have an increased chance
of an FSS diagnosis. We hypothesized that high intelligence and high neuroticism increase the probability of an FSS diagnosis
in patients with persistent functional somatic symptoms.
Methods
Our study was performed in a large, representative population cohort (n = 976) in Groningen, The Netherlands, and included two assessment waves. Intelligence was measured using the General Aptitude
Test Battery version B 1002-B. Neuroticism was measured using the 12-item neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised.
Functional somatic symptoms were measured with the somatization section of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
Current FSS diagnosis was assessed with a questionnaire. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses including
sum scores of neuroticism, intelligence scores, sex, number of functional somatic symptoms, and age as potential predictors
of having an FSS diagnosis.
Test Battery version B 1002-B. Neuroticism was measured using the 12-item neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised.
Functional somatic symptoms were measured with the somatization section of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
Current FSS diagnosis was assessed with a questionnaire. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses including
sum scores of neuroticism, intelligence scores, sex, number of functional somatic symptoms, and age as potential predictors
of having an FSS diagnosis.
Results
From the 976 participants that completed measurements at follow-up, 289 (26.4 %) participants reported at least one persistent
functional somatic symptom, and these subjects were included in the main analyses (38.4 % males, mean age of 55.2 years (SD = 10.7),
36–82 years). High numbers of functional somatic symptoms ((OR) = 1.320; 95 % (CI) = 1.097–1.588), female sex (OR = 9.068;
95 % CI = 4.061–20.251), and high intelligence (OR = 1.402; 95 % CI = 1.001–1.963) were associated with an FSS diagnosis,
while age (OR = 0.989; 95 % CI = 960–1.019) and neuroticism (OR = 0.956; 95 % CI = 0.872–1.048) were not.
functional somatic symptom, and these subjects were included in the main analyses (38.4 % males, mean age of 55.2 years (SD = 10.7),
36–82 years). High numbers of functional somatic symptoms ((OR) = 1.320; 95 % (CI) = 1.097–1.588), female sex (OR = 9.068;
95 % CI = 4.061–20.251), and high intelligence (OR = 1.402; 95 % CI = 1.001–1.963) were associated with an FSS diagnosis,
while age (OR = 0.989; 95 % CI = 960–1.019) and neuroticism (OR = 0.956; 95 % CI = 0.872–1.048) were not.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9251-4
- Authors
- Eva M. Kingma, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Peter de Jonge, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Johan Ormel, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Judith G. M. Rosmalen, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503