An Investigation of the Relationship between Depression, Anxiety, and Somatization Disorder in Outpatients

Nowadays, many patients refer to outpatient clinics due to anxiety, depression, and somatization disorders. These disorders have catastrophic costs for the health care system. The present study examined the relationship between depression, anxiety, and somatization in outpatients.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2018 on 400 patients over 18 years old who referred to a selected clinic in Kerman and were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as well as Physical Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Data were entered into SPSS statistical software version 20.

The results of this study indicated that 38.8% of outpatients had a somatization disorder, 73.5% had anxiety and 61.2% had depression. Depression was associated with an increased risk of somatization in such a way that a one-unit increase in the depression score increased the risk of somatization 1.12 times.

Training physicians to timely diagnose and treat mental disorders, especially depression has a significant impact on reducing the burden of physical and mental illnesses.