SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDER IN PATIENTS ATTENDING A GENERAL MEDICINE OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT: A CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a common but frequently overlooked condition in general medical outpatient settings.Patients with SSD often undergo repeated investigations and experience persistent distress due to unrecognized psychological contributors to their physical symptoms.Psychiatric comorbidities, particularly depression and anxiety, play a critical role in symptom amplification and healthcare-seeking behavior.Aim And Objectives: The aim of the study is to calculate the prevalence of somatic symptom disorder among patients attending a general medicine outpatient department and find its association with depression and anxiety symptoms.Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 adult outpatients at a tertiary care hospital.Somatic symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), while depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using PHQ-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), respectively.Associations were examined using chi-square and independent t-tests, and predictors of SSD were identified using binary logistic regression.Somatic symptom disorder was identified in 30.4% of participants.Depression and anxiety were Results: observed in 45.6% and 18.4% of patients, respectively.Significant somatization (PHQ-15 ≥10) was strongly associated with SSD (χ² = 102.95,p < 0.001).Multivariable analysis showed that depression independently predicted SSD (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.02-3.07,p = 0.041).SSD is highly prevalent in general medical outpatient settings and shows a Conclusion: strong association with depressive symptoms.Routine mental health screening in medical clinics may improve early identification and patient outcomes.