TO STUDY THE PREVALENCE OF SOMATIC SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS ATTENDING PSYCHIATRIC OPD. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abdul M. Gania, Ajaz A. Suhaff*, Abdul W. Khan, Nizam-UD-Din, Sajid M. Wani and M. Abrar

ABSTRACT

Aims and Objectives: To Study the Prevalence of Somatic Symptoms in Patients attending Psychiatric OPD. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The present study was conducted patients for the presence of somatic symptoms. The sample comprised of 100 patients attending psychiatric OPD. The study was done in SKIMS, medical college Bemina, Srinagar. Intake data of each caregivers was recorded on a specially designed proforma. Psychiatric diagnosis was given according to ICD 10. Somatic symptoms was assessed using the Scale for Assessment of Somatic Symptoms. Results: In our study majority of our patients were females 62 (62%), belonged to rural 68%, 68% of our participating patients were married, no formal education in 52%. Majority of patients had diagnosis of major depressive disorder 52%, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder 18%, generalized anxiety disorder 12%, phobia 8%, conversion (dissociative) disorder 6%, and bipolar affective disorder 4%. Conclusion: Present study emphasized on increased prevalence of somatic symptoms in patients with history of depression and PTSD and the importance of psychotraumatology in these patients especially in conflict zone areas like Kashmir.

Keywords: Somatic symptom disorder, Bodly distress disorder. ICD, Psychotraumatology.