Somatoform Disorders and Personality Traits in Hospitalized Patients with Chronic Back Pain in El Salvador

Abstract

Introduction. The somatoform symptoms disorder is characterized by multiple psychical symptoms that can’t be attributed to another physical or mental health diagnosis or drug abuse, having personality disorders as the most common comorbidity. Objective. To determine the frequency of somatoform disorders, its most important characteristics and different personality traits among patients with chronic back pain. Methods. Cross-sectional descriptive study carried out with patients admitted to the neurosurgery department of the General Hospital of the Salvadoran Social Security Institute. Data collection was carried out using the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms 2 scale and the International Personality Disorder Examination scale. The qualitative variables were analyzed through absolute frequencies. The quantitative variables were analyzed through measures of central tendency and dispersion. The statistical analyzes were carried out using the Social Package for the Social Science program version 26. Results. 60 patients were included, 40 of them women, 31 between 41 and 60 years old. Twenty-eight patients presented eight or more symptoms, excluding low back pain. Forty-five patients reported symptoms for more than one year. Fifty-three patients presented somatoform disorder. The most frequent personality traits were obsessive-compulsive (31), borderline (21) and paranoid (21). Conclusion. Patients with chronic low back pain who require hospital admission have a high frequency of somatoform disorders, with the main symptom being pain in the legs or arms; furthermore, these patients are characterized by mostly presenting obsessive-compulsive personality traits.