Somatic Symptom Disorder in the Context of the Family, Behavioral, and Comorbid Factors: A Cross-sectional Study of Adults at a Tertiary Care Center, South East Nigeria

Abstract Background/Objective: Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is one of the most common mental health disorders. In Nigeria, the harsh socio-economic conditions of people may have shaped this phenomenon; hence, this study evaluated SSD in the context of family, behavioral, and comorbid factors among adults at a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study of 442 participants, undertaken at a general outpatient clinic using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. The Somatic Symptom Scale-8 and family APGAR score was used to determine SSD and pattern of family functionality respectively. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version-22, level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05 and confidence interval (CI) of 95%. Results: Having thought of illness was about 38 times more associated with SSD than those with no thought of illness (odds ratio OR =38.25; 95% CI 4.81–304.20), tobacco use was about six times more associated with SSD than nontobacco use (OR = 6.19; 95% CI 1.30–29.54), while respondents with dysfunctional family were about 14 times more likely to have SSD than those with functional family (OR = 14.39; 95% CI 1.72–120.52). Conclusion: An association existed between SSD and family dysfunction, medical comorbidities, tobacco use, and household factors. While there is the need to incorporate these factors in the holistic care of somatic patients, policy makers at all level should find the measures to cushion the effects of the identified stressors.