OBJECTIVE: To review current knowledge regarding the prevalence of somatization problems in later life by level of caseness (somatoform disorders and medically unexplained symptoms, MUS) and to compare these rates with those in middle-aged and younger age groups. METHOD: A systematic search of the literature published from 1966 onwards was conducted in the Pubmed and EMBASE databases. RESULTS: Overall 8 articles, describing a total of 7 cohorts, provided data of at least one prevalence rate for somatoform disorders or MUS for the middle-aged (50-65 years) or older age (≥65 years) group. Prevalence rates for somatoform disorders in the general population range from 11 to 21% in younger, 10 to 20% in the middle-aged, and 1.5 to 13% in the older age groups. Prevalence rates for MUS show wider ranges, of respectively 1.6-70%, 2.4-87%, and 4.6-18%, in the younger, middle, and older age groups, which could be explained by the use of different instruments as well as lack of consensus in defining MUS. CONCLUSION: Somatoform disorders and MUS are common in later life, although the available data suggest that prevalence rates decline after the age of 65 years. More systematic research with special focus on the older population is needed to understand this age-related decline in prevalence rates.
OBJECTIVE: To review current knowledge regarding the prevalence of somatization problems in later life by level of caseness (somatoform disorders and medically unexplained symptoms, MUS) and to compare these rates with those in middle-aged and younger age groups. METHOD: A systematic search of the literature published from 1966 onwards was conducted in the Pubmed and EMBASE databases. RESULTS: Overall 8 articles, describing a total of 7 cohorts, provided data of at least one prevalence rate for somatoform disorders or MUS for the middle-aged (50-65 years) or older age (≥65 years) group. Prevalence rates for somatoform disorders in the general population range from 11 to 21% in younger, 10 to 20% in the middle-aged, and 1.5 to 13% in the older age groups. Prevalence rates for MUS show wider ranges, of respectively 1.6-70%, 2.4-87%, and 4.6-18%, in the younger, middle, and older age groups, which could be explained by the use of different instruments as well as lack of consensus in defining MUS. CONCLUSION:Somatoform disorders and MUS are common in later life, although the available data suggest that prevalence rates decline after the age of 65 years. More systematic research with special focus on the older population is needed to understand this age-related decline in prevalence rates.
Authors: Maria Christina Dehoust; Holger Schulz; Martin Härter; Jana Volkert; Susanne Sehner; Anna Drabik; Karl Wegscheider; Alessandra Canuto; Kerstin Weber; Mike Crawford; Alan Quirk; Luigi Grassi; Chiara DaRonch; Manuel Munoz; Berta Ausin; Anna Santos-Olmo; Arieh Shalev; Ora Rotenstein; Yael Hershkowitz; Jens Strehle; Hans-Ulrich Wittchen; Sylke Andreas Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Jonna van Eck van der Sluijs; Margreet Ten Have; Cees Rijnders; Harm van Marwijk; Ron de Graaf; Christina van der Feltz-Cornelis Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-04-08 Impact factor: 3.240