Page 80 - JCBP-2-1

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Screening for SSD-B criteria in China

symptoms, the PHQ-15 has been translated into analysis was applied to determine the optimal cutoff value
various languages, such as Korean and Spanish [27-29] , for the time spent worrying about physical discomfort per
and is widely used in medical institutions and day and the WI-8 scale.
scientific research . Comprising 15 common
[30]
physical symptoms, it quantifies the number and 3. Results
severity of physical symptoms experienced by 3.1. General demography data
patients over the past 4 weeks. The scoring method
is as follows: “0” = No trouble, “1” = Slight trouble, In the previous multicenter study, a total of 699 patients
“2” = Many troubles. A total score of less than 4 points were enrolled, comprising 429 (61.4%) females and
is considered mild, 5 – 9 points are categorized as 270 (38.6%) males, with an average age of 42.9 ± 14.2 years.
mild, 10 – 14 points as moderate, and 15 – 30 points as Among them, 427 (61.1%) belonged to the low-score
severe. The Chinese version utilized in this study has group, while 272 (38.9%) were in the high-score group.
demonstrated good reliability and validity . Notably, the low-score group exhibited a higher proportion
[23]
(ii) SSD–B Criteria Scale (SSD-12): This self-report scale of married individuals compared to the high-score group.
is designed to assess cognition, feelings, and behavior No statistically significant differences were observed in
toward symptoms. Consisting of 12 items, each scored other social demographic factors between the two groups
on a scale of 0 – 4 points, the total score ranges from (Table 1).
0 – 48 points. Psychometric evaluation using a cutoff In the comparative study, a total of 100 patients were
value of 16 points or more indicates good reliability included, consisting of 63 females and 37 males, with
and validity, justifying referral to a psychiatric an average of 45.36 ± 14.6 years. This cohort was evenly
department for further diagnosis (Cronbach distributed, with 50 cases each in the low- and high-score
α = 0.95) . Aligned with DSM-5 for evaluating SSD groups. Notably, there were no statistically significant
[22]
diagnostic criteria B, the scale comprehensively covers differences in demographic information observed between
dimensions of cognition, emotion, and behavior. It the two groups (Table 2).
is suitable for assessing psychological symptom load,
enabling rapid screening for SSD, and facilitating the 3.2. Characteristics of physiology and
monitoring of treatment effectiveness. Simultaneously, psychopathology
its applicability extends to primary health-care In the previous multicenter study, patients exhibited average
institutions . scale scores of 10, 14, and 17 on PHQ-15, SSD-12, and WI-8,
[31]
For the present study, patients were grouped based on respectively. The high-score group consistently scored higher
the validated SSD-12 score as follows: the high-score group on all three scales, and the observed differences between
(SSD-12 ≥ 16, n = 322) and the low-score group (SSD-12 the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01)
< 16, n = 477), with a sensitivity of 0.76 and a specificity (Table 3). Similarly, in the comparative study, patients had
of 0.80. average scale scores of 11, 12, and 17 on PHQ-15, SSD-12,
2.2.2. Health anxiety-related questionnaires Table 1. Comparison of general demographic factors in the
The health anxiety-related questionnaire employed in this previous multicenter study
study is WI-8. It comprises 8 items, each scored on a 1 – 5 Variables High‑score Low‑score χ² or t P
point scale. A total score exceeding 19 points indicates the group group
presence of health anxiety . WI-8 is particularly suitable (n=272) (n=427)
[25]
for evaluating anxiety, disease perception, and attention to Age (x ̄ ±s years; 42.73 (14.28) 43.76 (14.24) −1.910 0.057
physical symptoms or health. range 18–99)
Sex (n [%] female) 169 (62.1) 260 (60.9) 0.108 0.654
2.2.3. Statistical analyses
Marital status (n [%] 181 (66.5) 327 (76.6) 15.018 0.007
The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0 married individuals)
software. Specifically, t-tests were used for comparing Having an insurance 227 (83.5) 375 (87.8) 2.032 0.165
measurement data, and Chi-square tests were used plan (n [%])
for comparing categorical data. Pearson correlation Race (n [%] 254 (93.4) 396 (92.7) 0.105 0.764
analysis and multiple linear regression were used to Han ethnicity)
analyze the correlation factors affecting the psychological Residence (n [%] 219 (80.5) 356 (83.4) 0.749 0.415
characteristics assessed by SSD-12. The significance level residing in the city)
for all analyses was set at α = 0.05. In addition, ROC Notes: High-score group: SSD-12≥16; Low-score group: SSD-12<16.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1813