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Self-compassion in somatoform disorder

Authors :
Dewsaran-van der Ven, C.
van Broeckhuysen-Kloth, S.
Thorsell, S.
Scholten, R.
De Gucht, V.
Geenen, R.
Stress and self-regulation
Leerstoel Geenen
Stress and self-regulation
Leerstoel Geenen
Source :
Psychiatry Research, 262, 34. Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2018.

Abstract

‘Third wave’ cognitive-behavioral therapies have given a boost to the study of resilience factors, such as self-compassion. To get an indication of the potential clinical relevance of self-compassion for somatoform disorder, this study examined whether self-compassion in patients with somatoform disorder is lower than in the general population, and whether self-compassion is associated with number of symptoms and health-related quality of life. Two-hundred-and-thirty-six participants with somatoform disorder and 236 subjects from the general population, matched on sex and age, filled out questionnaires regarding self-compassion (SCS), number of symptoms (PSC) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D). The difference in self-compassion between the patient group (Mean 3.53, SD 0.96) and the general population (Mean 4.16, SD 0.98) was significant with a medium effect size (d = −0.65). Multiple regression analyses showed that having a somatoform disorder and low self-compassion were independently associated with number of symptoms and reduced health-related quality of life. The lower level of self-compassion in somatoform disorder and its association with more physical symptoms and lower health-related quality of life, indicate that self-compassion is a potential clinically relevant factor that may influence therapy outcome and that can be a therapeutic target in patients with somatoform disorder.

Details

ISSN :
01651781
Volume :
262
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Psychiatry Research
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....304a75533366d7c592c3b5a810c0fef7
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.013