In:
Transcultural Psychiatry, SAGE Publications, Vol. 37, No. 2 ( 2000-06), p. 219-228
Abstract:
To investigate the prevalence rates and characteristics of poorly explained or unexplained somatic symptoms in the general population of Japan, questionnaires were administered to 132 people aged 18 years or older in a small community in the city of Kofu. The participants were then interviewed by trained interviewers using a semi-structured interview schedule. Of the 132 participants in our study, 55 (41%) reported somatic symptoms. Of these 55, nine (16%) were diagnosed with a specific DSM-IV somatoform disorder. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the number of poorly explained symptoms among women was related to the respondent’s score on Neuroticism. These data suggest that poorly explained or unexplained somatic symptoms are related to personality characteristics. Moreover, our analysis also revealed a gender difference in the pattern of these relationships. None of the respondents who reported medically unexplained somatic symptoms had sought psychiatric care.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1363-4615
,
1461-7471
DOI:
10.1177/136346150003700204
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2000
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2015089-1