Loading...
Subjective cognitive concerns not related to objective impairment in patients with somatic symptom and related disorders
Weijters,R.M.M.M. Almela,M. van Boxtel,G.J.M. de Vroege,L.
Weijters,R.M.M.M.
Almela,M.
van Boxtel,G.J.M.
de Vroege,L.
Abstract
Objectives Patients with Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (SSRD) report subjective cognitive concerns, and research indicates that they show objective cognitive impairment. This study explored the value of subjective concerns flagging objective impairment. Furthermore, we investigated whether coping moderated this relationship, and the role of depressive symptomatology. Method In a cross-sectional design, objective impairment was measured with an extensive neuropsychological assessment; subjective concerns with the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire; coping styles with the Coping Inventory of Stressful Situations; and symptoms of depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire- 9. Results The results show that subjective concerns are of limited value in signaling objective impairment in patients with SSRD. Regression analyses performed on data from 225 patients showed that symptoms of depression (beta = .32) were the main predictor of subjective concerns, which were unrelated to objective impairment. Coping was not a moderator, but patients with emotion-oriented coping styles had more subjective concerns (beta=.40), and conversely, patients with avoidance- and/or task-oriented coping styles had less (respectively, beta=-.27 and beta=-.24). Conclusions These results align with the Somatosensory Amplification Theory; patients with SSRD may amplify benign cognitive failures and experience them as intrusive, noxious, and more intense. In patients with SSRD, subjective cognitive concerns are more related to psychological constructs (symptoms of depression and coping styles) than to objective impairment.
Description
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Objective cognitive impairments, Coping style, Depression, Somatic symptom and related disorders, Subjective cognitive concerns
Citation
Weijters, R M M M, Almela, M, van Boxtel, G J M & de Vroege, L 2024, 'Subjective cognitive concerns not related to objective impairment in patients with somatic symptom and related disorders', Neuropsychology, development, and cognition: Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 557-569. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2024.2383282
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess