Correlation of Life Event Stress with Depression in Patients of Somatoform Disorder: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Life event research is the cornerstone for assessment of psychosocial factors causing stress and illness. Somatoform disorder is a chronic debilitating illness and stress increases disability in it. Yet, studies in this area is sparse. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to assess if there is an association of stress with depression in patients of somatoform disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary healthcare setup of Assam. The sociodemographic and clinical variables of patients of somatoform disorder diagnosed as per ICD-10 were collected. Stress was assessed using the presumptive stressful life events scale and severity of depression was evaluated in patients with co-morbid depression using HAM-D scale. RESULTS: Majority were between 50-60 years of age (32%), home-maker (28%), from rural area (58%) and had presented with a duration of illness between 0-5yrs (43%) and 30% belonged to the somatization disorder group. Depression was present in 55% and mild depression was most common. Financial stress was most commonly reported stressful life event; stress was found to have a strong positive correlation to presence and severity of depression (p-value<0.01). ‘Presence of unmarried adult son/daughter’ as a self-reported life stressor was a novel finding in this study. CONCLUSION: Presence of stress amplifies the chances and severity of depression in patients of somatoform disorder. Thus, management of stress is an integral part in management of these patients.