Psychological interventions including group analysis (Leichsenring et al., 2015, Beutel et al., 2008) are effective with patients having somatoform disorders.

To reveal differences in dynamics of pathological bodily sensations, quality of life, illness representation in patients with somatoform disorders undergoing group analysis and psychoeducation program.

100 patients with somatoform disorders (undifferentiated somatoform disorder – 42, somatization disorder – 10, somatoform autonomic disfunction – 36, persistent somatoform pain disorder and other SD – 12) were randomly assigned randomized to psychoeducation intervention and to the group analysis psychotherapy. Before and after treatment they filled Screening for somatoforms symptoms (Rief, Hiller, 2003), Illness Perception Questionnaire - Revised (Moss-Morris et al., 2002), Cognitions About Body And Health Questionnaire (Rief et al., 1998), Scale for the Assessment of Illness Behaviour (Rief et al., 2003), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnairie-18 (Ritsner et al., 2005).

In both conditions decrease in complaints was the most in patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder and the least in somatoform autonomic disfunction (F=6.19, p<.01, η²=.17). In patients with somatization disorder there was the most increase in quality of life in leisure time, beliefs about intolerance to bodily sensations, rechecking the diagnosis (F=3.32-4.87, p<.05, η²=.10-.14). Decrease in beliefs about bodily weakness, illness consequences was the most prominent in patients with somatization disorder undergoing group therapy (F=2.90-4.46, p<.05, η²=.09-.13).

Patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder demonstrate most clinical improvement in interventions while patients with somatization disorder – the most psychological improvement. Research is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 20-013-00799.

Research is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 20-013-00799.

Psychological work with cognitive beliefs were shown to be beneficial for patients with somatoform disorders and unexplained somatic complaints (Liu et al., 2019). There is still a question of whether these results are specific or common for different kind of interventions including psychoanalytic psychotherapy (Kaplan, 2014).

The aim was to reveal dynamics of illness perception after group analysis psychotherapy comparing to psychoeducation in patients with somatoform disorders.

100 patients with somatoform disorders were randomized to psychoeducation intervention (48 patients; 15 males and 33 females) and to the group analysis psychotherapy (52 patients; 15 males and 37 females). Before and after treatment they filled Screening for somatoforms symptoms (Rief, Hiller, 2003) and Illness Perception Questionnaire - Revised (Moss-Morris et al., 2002).

2 (Groups) × 2 (Time: Before / After) ANOVA with repeated measures revealed major effect of time with both groups demonstrated equal decrease in somatoform symptoms during treatment (F=101.42, p<.01, η²=.52). Patients from both groups after treatment appraised their illnesses as having shorter duration without cycles, less severe consequences on their lives, reported increase in treatment control, understanding of their illness and decrease in emotional reactions (F=7.13-30.62, p<.01, η²=.07-.24). In group analysis condition only patients demonstrated increased beliefs that psychological and risk factors could impact their illness (interaction: F=4.58-7.24, p<.05, η²=.05-.07).

Patients with somatoform disorders almost equally benefitted from both psychoeducation and group analysis but group analysis psychotherapy led to better awareness of psychological and risk factors of their illness.