Andreas Hinz1, Jochen Ernst1, Heide Glaesmer1, Elmar Brähler2, Franziska G Rauscher3, Katja Petrowski4, Rüya-Daniela Kocalevent5. 1. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 2. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Leipzig University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany. 4. German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany. 5. Institute and Policlinic for Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Electronic address: r.kocalevent@uke.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The PHQ-15 is widely used as an open access screening instrument for somatic symptoms in different health care settings. The objectives of the study were to contribute to the construct validity and to generate normative data for the PHQ-15. METHODS: The survey was conducted in the general population in Germany from August 2011 to November 2014 (n=9250). All participants underwent an extensive core assessment including a set of questionnaires. RESULTS: Men reported significantly less (p<0.001) physical symptoms than women (4.6 [SD=3.6] vs. 6.3 [SD=4.1]). The PHQ-15 total score was strongly correlated with the physical component of quality of life (r=-0.58), fatigue (r=0.56), anxiety (r=0.54) and sleep problems (r=0.54). While high socioeconomic status was associated with low prevalences of all complaints, obesity was associated with some of the complaints, especially shortness of breath and pain in arms, legs, and joints. Normative data for the PHQ-15 were generated for men and women. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation confirms the burden caused by somatic symptoms in terms of impaired physical quality of life. In association with psychosocial consequences such as anxiety as well as sleep problems, future studies should also focus on the disease burden of somatic symptoms. In addition, the normative data provide a framework for the interpretation and comparison with other populations.
BACKGROUND: The PHQ-15 is widely used as an open access screening instrument for somatic symptoms in different health care settings. The objectives of the study were to contribute to the construct validity and to generate normative data for the PHQ-15. METHODS: The survey was conducted in the general population in Germany from August 2011 to November 2014 (n=9250). All participants underwent an extensive core assessment including a set of questionnaires. RESULTS:Men reported significantly less (p<0.001) physical symptoms than women (4.6 [SD=3.6] vs. 6.3 [SD=4.1]). The PHQ-15 total score was strongly correlated with the physical component of quality of life (r=-0.58), fatigue (r=0.56), anxiety (r=0.54) and sleep problems (r=0.54). While high socioeconomic status was associated with low prevalences of all complaints, obesity was associated with some of the complaints, especially shortness of breath and pain in arms, legs, and joints. Normative data for the PHQ-15 were generated for men and women. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation confirms the burden caused by somatic symptoms in terms of impaired physical quality of life. In association with psychosocial consequences such as anxiety as well as sleep problems, future studies should also focus on the disease burden of somatic symptoms. In addition, the normative data provide a framework for the interpretation and comparison with other populations.
Authors: Manfred E Beutel; Jörg Wiltink; Jasmin Ghaemi Kerahrodi; Ana N Tibubos; Elmar Brähler; Andreas Schulz; Philipp Wild; Thomas Münzel; Karl Lackner; Jochem König; Norbert Pfeiffer; Matthias Michal; Michaela Henning Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2019-03-14 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Mark Shevlin; Emma Nolan; Marcin Owczarek; Orla McBride; Jamie Murphy; Jilly Gibson Miller; Todd K Hartman; Liat Levita; Liam Mason; Anton P Martinez; Ryan McKay; Thomas V A Stocks; Kate M Bennett; Philip Hyland; Richard P Bentall Journal: Br J Health Psychol Date: 2020-05-27