The unifying diagnostic construct of bodily distress syndrome (BDS) was confirmed in the general population

Marie Weinreich Petersen; Andreas Schröder; Torben Jørgensen; Eva Ørnbøl; Thomas Meinertz Dantoft; Marie Eliasen; Betina H Thuesen; Per Fink

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109868

The unifying diagnostic construct of bodily distress syndrome (BDS) was confirmed in the general population

J Psychosom Res. 2020 Jan:128:109868. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109868. Epub 2019 Nov 14.

Authors

Marie Weinreich Petersen¹, Andreas Schröder², Torben Jørgensen³, Eva Ørnbøl², Thomas Meinertz Dantoft⁴, Marie Eliasen⁴, Betina H Thuesen⁴, Per Fink²

Affiliations

¹ The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: mawept@rm.dk.
² The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
³ Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen C, Denmark; Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark.
⁴ Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.

PMID: 31759195
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109868

Abstract

Objectives: Bodily distress syndrome (BDS) has been shown to encompass a range of functional somatic syndromes (FSS) such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia (FM), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in clinical samples. This study aimed to explore symptom clusters and test classification of individuals with illness similar to the BDS criteria in a general population sample.

Methods: A stratified subsample of 1590 individuals from the DanFunD part two cohort was included. Symptoms were assessed with the Research Interview for Functional somatic Disorders, performed by trained physicians. In 44 symptoms pooled from criteria of IBS, FM, CFS, and BDS, symptom clusters were explored with explorative factor analysis. Confirmation of symptom clusters of BDS in the previously described 25- and 30-item BDS checklists was performed with confirmatory factor analysis. Classification of individuals into illness groups was investigated with latent class analysis.

Results: Four symptom clusters (cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, general symptoms/fatigue) corresponding to the BDS subtypes and their corresponding FSS were identified and confirmed. A three-class model including 25 BDS items had the best fit for dividing participants into classes of illness: One class with low probability, one class with medium probability, and one class with high probability of having ≥4 symptoms in all symptom clusters.

Conclusion: The BDS concept was confirmed in the general population and constitutes a promising approach for improved FSS classification. It is highly clinical relevant being the only diagnostic construct defining the complex multi-organ type.

Keywords: Bodily distress syndrome; Factor analysis; Functional somatic disorders; Latent class analysis; Somatic symptoms.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cohort Studies
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / diagnosis*
Female
Fibromyalgia / diagnosis*
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome / diagnosis*
Latent Class Analysis
Male
Middle Aged