Research News

Supervised by Dr. M. Anisur Rahman

Abstract

The present study was conducted to adapt Mory’s Somatic Complaints Scale for use in Bangladesh to measure somatoform disorders. The scale has three subscales. These are: conversion, somatization and health concerns/ hypochondriasis. It is a four point Likert type scale. The International Test Commission (ITC) guidelines were followed for adapting the present Somatic Complaints Scale. The sample comprised 162 (81 clinical + 81 non clinical) subjects of both sexes aged 18-50 years. Forward and committee translation methods were used for translating the Somatic Complaints Scale from English to Bangla. After that a pilot study was done with a small group of 10 patients (4 somatization, 4 conversion and 2 hypochondriasis). Following this, field testing was done with the above mentioned sample with the final items. Finally, psychometric properties of the present scale were established. The scale was found to have content validity and construct validity (convergent, divergent/ discriminant). Content validity was ensured by 18 judges’ evaluation of the items. Construct validity evidence came from convergent validity and divergent validity. High and significant correlation of Somatic Complaints Scale (r = 0.925, a = 0.01) with GHQ-28 indicated evidence for convergent validity and significant difference (F = 1245.842, P = 0.00) between clinical and non clinical groups provided evidence for discriminant or divergent validity. Internal consistency reliability of Somatic Complaints Scale was measured by Cronbach alpha method (0.970) which indicates high internal consistency of the present scale. Test-retest reliability done on 10 (3 somatization + 4 conversion + 3 hypochondriasis) diagnosed somatoform disorders patients also revealed satisfactory (r = 0.869) result. Both the screening and severity norms were developed for the Somatic Complaints Scale. Screening norm was developed using sensitivity and specificity calculation. The ideal cut-off score for screening somatoform disorders was found to be 29 with sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 98%. Diagnostic performance of the Somatic Complaints Scale was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. The area under ROC curve was found to be 1 which indicates the diagnostic scale was perfect. Percentile method was used in developing severity norm for the present Somatic Complaints Scale. Raw scores of the participants of the clinical sample (who got the score 29 and above on somatic complaints scale) were converted into three percentile points (25“’, 50“’ and 75**’) which divided the scores in four percentile levels (0-25**’, 26-50**’, 51-75**’, 76 100**’). These four percentile levels were consecutively used to indicate four levels of severity namely; mild, moderate, severe and profound. When corresponding raw score for the percentile range was calculated it was found that for mild, moderate, severe and profound levels of severity, the raw scores ranges were from 29 to 42, 43 to 50, 51 to 55 and 56 to 72 respectively.