Flovenz Sigrun Olafsdottir, Broddadottir Elin, Brynjolfsson Sturla, Agnarsdottir Agnes Sigridur, Salkovskis Paul M, Sigurdsson Jon Fridrik
Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University.
Primary Health Care of the Capital area, Iceland.
Laeknabladid. 2021 Feb;107(2):67-73. doi: 10.17992/lbl.2021.02.620.
Persistent physical symptoms that are medically unexplained can result in significant functional impairment. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of persistent physical symptoms among people seeking primary healthcare in Reykjavík, Iceland, how they relate to functional impairment, symptoms of depression, general anxiety and health anxiety, and estimate the proportion of people with such symptoms who would likely benefit from psychological treatment.
Questionnaires measuring persistent physical symptoms, functional impairment, and symptoms of depression, general anxiety and health anxiety were administered to 106 patients attending two primary healthcare clinics.
The prevalence of persistent physical symptoms was 27.4% among the primary care patients and they had a strong relationship to symptoms of mental disorders. Participants with persistent physical symptoms were 8 times more likely to have clinical levels of depression and general anxiety than participants without such symptoms, 4 times more likely to have clinical levels of health anxiety and 13 times more likely to have clinical levels of functional impairment. At least two-thirds of participants with persistent physical symptoms would likely benefit from psychological treatment.
The prevalence of persistent physical symptoms among health care patients in the capital area of Iceland is in line with previous studies. Similarly, the strong relationship between persistent physical symptoms and symptoms of depression and anxiety corresponds to previous studies. It is likely that at least two out of three patients with persistent physical symptoms would benefit from psychological treatment. Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy for persistent physical symptoms might be particularly useful as is focuses on the interplay between physical and mental symptoms.
医学上无法解释的持续性身体症状可导致严重的功能障碍。本研究的目的是估计冰岛雷克雅未克寻求初级医疗保健的人群中持续性身体症状的患病率，这些症状与功能障碍、抑郁症状、广泛性焦虑和健康焦虑之间的关系，并估计有此类症状的人群中可能从心理治疗中受益的比例。
对在两家初级医疗保健诊所就诊的106名患者进行问卷调查，以测量持续性身体症状、功能障碍以及抑郁、广泛性焦虑和健康焦虑症状。
初级保健患者中持续性身体症状的患病率为27.4%，且这些症状与精神障碍症状密切相关。有持续性身体症状的参与者出现临床水平抑郁和广泛性焦虑的可能性是没有此类症状参与者的8倍，出现临床水平健康焦虑的可能性是其4倍，出现临床水平功能障碍的可能性是其13倍。至少三分之二有持续性身体症状的参与者可能从心理治疗中受益。
冰岛首都地区医疗保健患者中持续性身体症状的患病率与先前研究一致。同样，持续性身体症状与抑郁和焦虑症状之间的密切关系也与先前研究相符。很可能每三名有持续性身体症状的患者中至少有两名会从心理治疗中受益。针对持续性身体症状的跨诊断认知行为疗法可能特别有用，因为它关注身体和精神症状之间的相互作用。
