Psychiatric Illness in Patients with Persistent Somatisation

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Abstract
Background: This study explores the incidence and nature of mental illness among persistent somatisers, and analyses their use of mental health services.Method: Individuals with at least ten admissions to non-psychiatric departments during an 8-year period were studied. Persistent somatisers (n = 56) were compared with other frequent users (n = 57) of non-psychiatric services.Results: Of the persistent somatisers, 82% had been examined by a psychiatrist at least once (median, 3 times). Sixteen per cent were mentally retarded, 48% were dependent on alcohol or drugs, and 48% had DSM–III–R personality disorder. The most prevalent ICD–10 diagnoses were anxiety states (54%), depressions (30%), phobias (18%) and psychoses (20%).Conclusions: Persistent somatisation is associated with severe mental illness and a broad spectrum of heterogeneous psychiatric diagnoses and syndromes. Persistent somatisers impose a serious burden on the mental health care system.

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