Sönmez Doğancan, Bahçeci Bülent
Rize State Hospital, Psychiatry Clinic, Rize, Türkiye.
Department of Psychiatry, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine, Rize, Türkiye.
Psychiatry Clin Psychopharmacol. 2025 Apr 16;35(3):216-225. doi: 10.5152/pcp.2025.241056.
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental disorder that is common worldwide and is associated with somatic symptoms. Cognitive and behavioral problems caused by depression can negatively affect problem-solving skills, and somatic symptoms related to depression can intensify this effect. Although the relationship between depression and problem-solving skills has been investigated in the literature, the mediating role of somatic symptoms in this relationship has not been sufficiently examined. This study aims to investigate the effect of somatic symptoms on problem-solving skills in patients with depression. Methods: This study included 200 patients diagnosed with MDD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria who applied to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital between March 2021 and March 2022. The sociodemographic data form, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders Clinician Version, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Problem Solving Inventory, and Somatosensory Amplification Scale were administered to the participants. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS v26.0 program. Results: Around 111 (55.5%) of the participants had somatic symptoms, and depression levels were found to be higher in this group. Somatic symptoms were more common in women and older individuals. Participants with somatic symptoms exhibited more hasty and avoidant approaches to problem-solving skills and used thoughtful, evaluative, planned, and self-confident approaches less. In addition, it was observed that problem-solving skills improved with increasing education levels. It was determined that somatic symptoms had a mediating role in the effect of depression on problem-solving skills. Conclusion: This study is the first in the literature to evaluate the relationship between somatic symptoms and problem-solving skills in patients with depression. This study shows that somatic symptoms have a negative effect on problem-solving skills in depressed individuals. The presence of somatic symptoms leads to the use of less effective strategies in the problem-solving process, which can exacerbate the cognitive symptoms of depression. Approaches aimed at reducing somatic symptoms in treatment processes can strengthen the problem-solving skills of depressed individuals and improve treatment outcomes.
重度抑郁症（MDD）是一种严重的精神障碍，在全球范围内普遍存在，且与躯体症状相关。抑郁症引起的认知和行为问题会对解决问题的能力产生负面影响，而与抑郁症相关的躯体症状会加剧这种影响。尽管文献中已对抑郁症与解决问题能力之间的关系进行了研究，但躯体症状在这种关系中的中介作用尚未得到充分研究。本研究旨在探讨躯体症状对抑郁症患者解决问题能力的影响。
本研究纳入了2021年3月至2022年3月期间在雷杰普·塔伊普·埃尔多安大学培训与研究医院精神科门诊就诊、根据《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》（DSM-5）标准诊断为MDD的200名患者。向参与者发放社会人口学数据表格、DSM-5障碍临床版结构化临床访谈、汉密尔顿抑郁量表、贝克抑郁量表、解决问题量表和躯体感觉放大量表。使用SPSS v26.0程序对获得的数据进行分析。
约111名（55.5%）参与者有躯体症状，且该组的抑郁水平更高。躯体症状在女性和老年人中更常见。有躯体症状的参与者在解决问题能力方面表现出更仓促和回避的方式，较少使用深思熟虑、评估、计划和自信的方式。此外，观察到随着教育水平的提高，解决问题的能力有所改善。确定躯体症状在抑郁症对解决问题能力的影响中起中介作用。
本研究是文献中首次评估抑郁症患者躯体症状与解决问题能力之间关系的研究。本研究表明，躯体症状对抑郁症患者的解决问题能力有负面影响。躯体症状的存在导致在解决问题过程中使用效果较差的策略，这可能会加剧抑郁症的认知症状。在治疗过程中旨在减轻躯体症状的方法可以增强抑郁症患者的解决问题能力并改善治疗效果。
