Somatization Level Among Psychosomatic Dermatology Patients: Relationship With Dyadic Adjustment, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Perfectionism

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the somatization level and dyadic adjustment, gratitude, forgiveness, and perfectionism in patients with psychosomatic dermatologic complaints. METHODS: In this correlational survey study, participants were recruited using the purposive sampling method from patients with psychosomatic dermatologic complaints, who were 18 or older, married, and living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Data were collected from patients diagnosed as having a dermatological disease with probable psychological etiology by a dermatologist at the dermatology outpatient unit of Nicosia Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital during April–December 2018. The demographic information form, symptom checklist, dyadic adjustment scale, gratitude questionnaire, Heartland forgiveness scale, and almost perfect scale were administered to the participants. RESULTS: In this study, female sex, low education level, being an immigrant, low dyadic adjustment, perfectionism with a high level of discrepancy, low forgiveness of self and situations, and low gratitude levels were found to be probable risk factors for somatization. CONCLUSION: During the psychiatric treatment of patients with somatic complaints, marital problems, forgiveness, and perfectionism with a high level of discrepancy should be considered.