Psychological Distress and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Somatic Diseases in Family Medicine

Abstract

Background: The aim of this research was to examine psychological distress and quality of life in patients with chronic somatic diseases in family medicine practices. Additional objectives included determining whether the severity of the illness and sociodemographic characteristics influence these aspects, and whether psychological distress in patients with chronic somatic diseases is recognized and treated in the work of family medicine physicians.

Methods: The investigation was conducted on a sample of adult patients from the family medicine practice, forming a study group of 160 participants. The control group consisted of 74 individuals from the general population. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) questionnaire was used to assess psychological distress, while the World Health Organization Quality of Life brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was utilized to measure quality of life.

Main findings: Psychological symptoms of somatization and the total number of present psychological symptoms were significantly higher in the study group compared to the control one. In the quality-of-life category, the study group scored significantly lower in the domains of physical health, mental health, social functioning and the overall test score.

Principal conclusion: Patients in family medicine with chronic somatic diseases experience greater psychological distress and poorer quality of life compared to the general population. In addition to the severity of somatic illness and the number of somatic conditions, psychological distress and quality of life are also influenced by age, marital status, number of children, education and employment status. Psychological distress in patients with chronic somatic diseases is rarely recognized in family medicine practices and even less frequently treated.