Document Detail


Hypochondriasis influences quality-of-life outcomes in patients with chronic fatigue.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8711085     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: To determine how hypochondriacal symptoms influence the quality-of-life outcomes of patients with a chief complaint of chronic fatigue. METHODS: Cross-sectional cohort study of a consecutive sample of 71 patients (mean duration of fatigue of 4.1 years). Forty-eight (68%) patients met criteria for current major depression and 32 (45%) met criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). All patients received a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation. Quality-of-life and physical, depressive and hypochondriacal symptom scores were assessed through reliable self-report questionnaires and a structured interview. A path model expressing the relation between predictor variables (hypochondriasis and depression), intervening variables (physical symptoms) and quality of life was postulated and evaluated using structural equation methods. RESULTS: The paths linking hypochondriasis with physical symptoms and mental health and the path connecting physical symptoms and quality of life were each statistically significant. The model applied especially well to patients who fulfilled CFS criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life of chronic fatigue patients correlates with the severity of their physical symptoms and their hypochondriacal disposition toward illness.
Authors:
P Manu; G Affleck; H Tennen; P A Morse; J I Escobar
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychotherapy and psychosomatics     Volume:  65     ISSN:  0033-3190     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychother Psychosom     Publication Date:    1996 Mar-Apr
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-09-06     Completed Date:  1996-09-06     Revised Date:  2009-11-11    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0024046     Medline TA:  Psychother Psychosom     Country:  SWITZERLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  76-81     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y., USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / psychology*
Female
Humans
Hypochondriasis / psychology*
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life*
Questionnaires
Retrospective Studies
Self Assessment (Psychology)
Severity of Illness Index
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
AR-2062/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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