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Psychiatric Illness in Patients with Persistent Somatisation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Per Fink
Per Fink*
Affiliation:
Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Department of Psychiatric Demography, Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital, Skovagervej 2, DK-8240 Risskov, Denmark
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Abstract

Background

This study explores the incidence and nature of mental illness among persistent somatisers, and analyses their use of mental health services.

Method

Individuals with at least ten admissions to non-psychiatric departments during an 8-year period were studied. Persistent somatisers (n = 56) were compared with other frequent users (n = 57) of non-psychiatric services.

Results

Of the persistent somatisers, 82% had been examined by a psychiatrist at least once (median, 3 times). Sixteen per cent were mentally retarded, 48% were dependent on alcohol or drugs, and 48% had DSM–III–R personality disorder. The most prevalent ICD–10 diagnoses were anxiety states (54%), depressions (30%), phobias (18%) and psychoses (20%).

Conclusions

Persistent somatisation is associated with severe mental illness and a broad spectrum of heterogeneous psychiatric diagnoses and syndromes. Persistent somatisers impose a serious burden on the mental health care system.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 166 , Issue 1 , January 1995 , pp. 93 - 99
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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