Citation

Spitzer C, Barnow S, Wingenfeld K, Rose M, Lowe B, Grabe HJ. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Psychiatry 2009; 43(1): 80-86.

Affiliation

University Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf and Klinikum Eilbek (Schön Kliniken), Hamburg, Germany. c.spitzer@uke.uni-hamburg.de

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1080/00048670802534366

PMID

19085532

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Given the association between severe childhood trauma, adult somatization and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), the purpose of the present paper was to assess this syndrome and its clinical correlates in patients with somatization disorder (SD). METHODS: A total of 28 patients (82% women, mean age = 41.7+/-10.1 years) meeting DSM-IV criteria for SD as confirmed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Axis I were compared to 28 age- and gender-matched patients with major depression, but without a lifetime diagnosis of SD. They completed the Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex Scales, and the SF-36 Health Survey. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, SD patients had higher risks for current and lifetime diagnoses of cPTSD (odds ratio (OR) = 15.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.76-127.54; and OR = 8.33, 95%CI = 2.04-34.07, respectively). SD subjects with cPTSD had more psychological distress, more interpersonal problems and worse psychosocial functioning than those without the syndrome. CONCLUSION: The concept of complex PTSD may hold clinical utility when applied to SD patients because it identifies a distinct subgroup characterized by severe psychosocial impairment. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the present findings are discussed.

Language: en