Thesis A transdiagnostic investigation of somatisation, 2023, Keen

[Dolphin]

Keen E.
A transdiagnostic investigation of somatisation.
Univ Macquarie. 2023 Oct; Thesis. Online: 2026 Jan 6.
https://figshare.mq.edu.au/ndownloader/files/60795094

Thesis Summary

Somatic distress, a spectrum of experiences involving physical bodily symptoms accompanied by psychological distress and functional impairments, has infrequently been explored within the growing body of literature assessing transdiagnostic processes. In the current thesis, two underexplored transdiagnostic mechanisms were assessed in individuals with somatic distress; maladaptive metacognitive beliefs and overgeneral autobiographical memory. Given there are limited evidence-based treatments available for clinical somatic distress (referred to as somatoform disorders), investigating transdiagnostic mechanisms is pivotal for developing future novel psychological treatment protocols. Further, understanding community knowledge of somatoform disorders and preferences for treatment is important in endeavouring towards new treatments.

In Chapter 1, a general introduction is presented.

In Chapter 2, a systematic review was undertaken to examine the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and somatic presentations including health anxiety, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Chapter 3 extended upon systematic review findings to explore maladaptive metacognitive beliefs in adults with somatic symptom disorder compared to healthy controls.

In Chapter 4, overgeneral autobiographical memory was examined in individuals with non-clinical somatic symptoms with an extension of this investigation undertaken in Chapter 5 in adults with somatic symptom disorder compared to healthy controls.

In Chapter 6, mental health literacy and treatment preferences for somatoform disorders was explored in an undergraduate university sample.

A discussion of thesis results is presented in Chapter 7.

Overall, thesis findings suggest that maladaptive metacognitive beliefs, but not overgeneral autobiographical memory, is an important correlate of non-clinical and clinical somatic distress. Finally, results indicate considerable openness to psychological intervention for somatic disorders and reasonably well-developed recognition of somatoform disorders in university students. Metacognitive beliefs may be a promising avenue for novel psychological interventions for somatic distress, however, future longitudinal research is needed to confirm the role of metacognitive beliefs in the onset and maintenance of somatic distress.

 

[Yann04]

Somatic distress, a spectrum of experiences involving physical bodily symptoms accompanied by psychological distress and functional impairments,

So basically every single illness that has a significant burden and isn’t a quick fix??

 

[Trish]

The link tells me I'm forbidden access.

I don't want to read it, I was just curious to glance through to see the department this was in. Presumably psychology or health psychology.

I wish psychologists would stay away from pretending they have useful things to say about physical conditions.

 

[Yann04]

The link tells me I'm forbidden access.

I don't want to read it, I was just curious to glance through to see the department this was in. Presumably psychology or health psychology.

I wish psychologists would stay away from pretending they have useful things to say about physical conditions.

Seems to work for me. Seems to be psychology PhD/Masters dissertation.

Edwina Keen

Bachelor of Psychology (Hons)

School of Psychological Sciences

Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University

This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of

Master of Clinical Psychology/ Doctor of Philosophy”

 

[Yann04]

a systematic review was undertaken to examine the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and somatic presentations including health anxiety, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome.

extended upon systematic review findings to explore maladaptive metacognitive beliefs in adults with somatic symptom disorder compared to healthy controls.

overgeneral autobiographical memory was examined in individuals with non-clinical somatic symptoms with an extension of this investigation undertaken in Chapter 5 in adults with somatic symptom disorder compared to healthy controls.

The only acceptable evidence for this should be longitudinal. Because as any serious person should figure out becoming chronically ill will change your “psychology”/“beliefs”.

So without longitudinal studies you’ll just be taking how ill people think and saying that causes their illness which is not only methodologically sloppy but very dangerous for ill people’s welfare.

future longitudinal research is needed to confirm the role of metacognitive beliefs in the onset and maintenance of somatic distress.

You can’t spend 300 pages making it sound like ill people’s thoughts contribute to their illness and slap this at the end to gain legitimacy.

Without proper longitudinal research there should not be “treatments” aimed at changing people’s thoughts at all.