Factor analysis of the clustering of common somatic symptoms: a preliminary study

Abstract

BackgroundStudies of outpatient department patients indicate that somatic discomforts such as headache, neck pain, chest pain, low back pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort are commonly found in patients with multiple complaints. Clustering of some symptoms has been found in common somatic symptom analyses. Because of the complexity involved in the diagnosis of patients with multiple complaints, the aim of this study is to identify and classify patterns of somatic symptoms in individuals assessed during a health examination.MethodsA total of 683 patients (437 males, 246 females) received a one-day physical examination and completed a structured survey during the period from May 2007 to April 2008. A physical symptoms interview was conducted, and medical and demographic data was collected.ResultsBased on the factor analysis, 4 clusters of symptoms were identified: 1) pain symptoms, 2) cold symptoms, 3) cardiopulmonary symptoms, and 4) gastrointestinal symptoms. The distribution of symptoms differed between males and females. After varimax rotation of factor patterns, 4 extracted factors emerged. In males, the factors were 1) pain symptoms, 2) cold symptoms, 3) cardiopulmonary symptoms, and 4) gastrointestinal symptoms. In females, the factors were 1) pain symptoms, 2) cold symptoms, 3) cardiopulmonary symptoms, and 4) head and gastrointestinal symptoms.ConclusionsFour clusters of somatic symptoms emerged for both males and females; however, the predominant symptoms were different in males and females. Females displayed more head-related symptoms than males. Patients should be thoroughly interviewed about additional symptoms within the same cluster after the recognition of a single somatic complaint.

Psychosomatic symptoms and stressful working conditions among Palestinian nurses: a cross-sectional study

“…From a study with the same psychosomatic questionnaire as the one used in the present study, the mean score of PSS was higher among female compared to male students (Pikó et al., 1997). Female patients displayed more head-related PSS than males (Tsai, 2010). The higher frequency of PSS among women might be explained because women have extra responsibilities with housekeeping duties and caring for children in addition to the tasks in the workplace.…”

Somatic symptom profiles in the general population: A latent class analysis in a Danish population-based health survey

“…8,10,14,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] The findings differ, but in general, they have found an MS, GI, and CP factor and some have also found an overall factor comprising multiple symptoms from several factors. [27][28][29] Thus, these findings correspond well with our findings of an MS, GI, pulmonary/CP, and the all-symptoms profile.…”

Hot Deformation Behavior of As-Cast and Homogenized Al0.5CoCrFeNi High Entropy Alloys

“…Generally, the FCC-typed HEAs are soft and ductile [12][13][14][15][16], whereas the BCC-typed HEAs are hard and brittle [13][14][15]17]. As a two-phase alloy, the Al 0.…”