Somatosensory amplification mediates sex differences in psychological distress among cardioverter-defibrillator patients.

Versteeg, H; Baumert, J; Kolb, C; Pedersen, SS; Denollet, J; Ronel, J; Ladwig, KH

doi:10.1037/a0020337

journal article

Dokumenttyp:: Journal Article
Autor(en):: Versteeg, H; Baumert, J; Kolb, C; Pedersen, SS; Denollet, J; Ronel, J; Ladwig, KH
Titel:: Somatosensory amplification mediates sex differences in psychological distress among cardioverter-defibrillator patients.
Abstract:: Objective: The present study examined whether female patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) report more psychological distress than male patients, and whether somatosensory amplification mediates this relationship. Design: Consecutive ICD patients (N = 241; 33% women) participating in the Living with an Implanted Cardioverter-Defibrillator Study, completed a set of psychological questionnaires. Main Outcome Measures: Symptom Checklist-90 and Somatosensory Amplification Scale. Results: Univariable linear regression analyses showed that female ICD patients reported more symptoms of anxiety (? = .13, p = .04), phobic anxiety (? = .13, p = .05), and somatic health complaints (? = .15, p = .02), and scored higher on somatosensory amplification (? = .24, p < .001) than men. Multivariable regression analyses, adjusted for demographic and clinical risk factors, revealed that somatosensory amplification was associated with more anxiety (? = .48, p < .001), phobic anxiety (? = .34, p < .001), and somatic health complaints (? = .49, p < .001). Sobel tests indicated that somatosensory amplification mediated the association between sex and these three domains of psychological distress (p = .0005, .002, and .0006, respectively). Conclusion: Somatosensory amplification mediated the relationship between female sex and heightened anxiety, phobic anxiety, and somatic health complaints in ICD patients. Women may be more likely to misinterpret bodily sensations as indicative of deterioration in their condition. Interventions focusing on modifying these dysfunctional beliefs may reduce their psychological distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).
Zeitschriftentitel:: Health Psychol
Jahr:: 2010
Band / Volume:: 29
Heft / Issue:: 5
Seitenangaben Beitrag:: 477-83
Sprache:: eng
Volltext / DOI:: doi:10.1037/a0020337
PubMed:: http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20836602
Print-ISSN:: 0278-6133
TUM Einrichtung:: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie
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mediaTUM Gesamtbestand Einrichtungen Schools TUM School of Medicine and Health Departments Clinical Medicine Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie (Prof. Henningsen)2010