Comparison of Illness Behavior between Japanese and Chinese Patients with Somatoform Disorders

Aims: To clarify the differences between Japan and China regarding illness behavior of outpatients with somatoform disorders. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: A survey on psychiatric and psychological outpatients with somatoform disorders between Japan and China. Duration of this study was three months between April 1, 2011, and June 30, 2011. Methodology: The subjects of this research included 43 Japanese outpatients (49.7±10.5 yr., M/F:13/30) in psychiatry clinic at Saga Medical School Hospital, Saga 845-8502, Japan. It also included 38 Chinese outpatients (40.7±8.2 yr., M/F: 14/24) in psychiatry and psychology outpatient clinic in Dalian Medical University Hospital, Liaoning province, China. All psychiatric patients were diagnosed as the somatoform disorders according to the DSM-IV. To investigate the difference of psychological status and illness behavior, we examined them using two psychological instruments: Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) and General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30). Results: It can be found that there were the remarkable statistical differences between the Japanese and Chinese patients with somatoform disorders of each of the subscales of the GHQ-30. All GHQ-30 items were scored significantly higher by the Chinese than by the Japanese. Regarding the IBQ, the statistical differences of five subscales of IBQ between the two groups: General Hypochondriasis, Disease Conviction, Affective Inhibition, Affective Disturbance, and Irritability can be found. No obvious difference was found between the two groups of the subscale of Psychological versus somatic focusing (P/S) and Denial (D), however. Conclusion: The GHQ-30 and the other five subscales of IBQ (except for P/S and D) for Chinese was higher than for Japanese. This finding may be attribute to the socio-cultural and economic factors. P/S and D scores on the IBQ were not significantly different, suggesting the possibility of an essential symptom of somatoform disorders.