TESTING OF A SCREENING-STRATEGY TO SELECT GYNECOLOGICAL OUTPATIENTS WITH A HIGHER RISK FOR EXHIBITING PSYCHOSOMATIC COMPLICATIONS

In a pilot-study 103 gynecological outpatients answered a gynecologica l questionnaire (FGB) including Items of the (non-gynecological) compl aints questionnaire (GBB) and a mood questionnaire (BSF). Cluster anal yses of the FGB- and BSF-scores identify four groups. One group, consi sting of 26 outpatients (= 25%), has as high GBB- and BSF-scores as a group of 256 psychosomatic in-patients answering these questionnaires at the beginning of their psychosomatic therapy. These 26 outpatients are labeled as high risk patients. Further results show high correlati ons between all FGB; and GBB-scores among the gynecological outpatient s. A significant connection between the four group classification and ten biopsychosocial variables is found only for the variable professio nal state. The results are seen as a first confirmation of the tested screening-strategy. Moreover they give evidence that further investiga tions should pay more attention to the connection between job strain a nd gynecological com; plaints or disorders.