DYSFUNCTIONAL COGNITIONS IN PATIENTS WITH SOMATIZATION SYNDROME

Inadequate cognitions concerning the perception and interpretation of bodily sensations are considered to play an important role for the dev elopment of the somatization syndrome. This was studied by means of th e newly developed ''Attitudes Towards Body and Health Questionnaire''. Five main dimensions could be differentiated by factor analysis in a sample of 484 inpatients: catastrophizing cognitions, intolerance of b odily complaints, bodily weakness, autonomic sensations, and health ha bits. The instrument was completed by 159 patients with a somatization syndrome, 30 patients with other mental disorders and 101 healthy con trols. Elevated mean scores were found exclusively in the somatization group for catastrophizing cognitions and intolerance of bodily compla ints. Bodily weakness and autonomic sensations were more severe in the somatizing group as compared to both comparison group. The scales of our questionnaire were correlated positively with other measures of so matization and hypochondriasis, and three of the scales improved durin g the course of an inpatient treatment: lasting several weeks.