The Link Between Anxiety & Depression & Somatic Symptoms
I want to share a large study (over 50,000 people) that highlights the link between anxiety and depression and somatic symptoms in the body. I treat a lot of unexplained physical symptoms that are purely the physical manifestation of anxiety and depression showing up in the body. Here’s a recap of some of the information from this study.
Introduction: Somatic symptoms are frequent among people in the community, and more than 75% of respondents in a community study reported at least one subjective somatic complaint during the past 30 days. More than 50% reported tiredness, 42% headache, 35% low back pain, and 33% pain in the arms and shoulder. Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation were reported by nearly 50% and asthenia and fatigue in about 25% of the general population.
Results: Women reported more somatic symptoms than men (mean number of symptoms women/men: 3.8/2.9). There was a strong association between anxiety, depression, and functional somatic symptoms. The association was equally strong for anxiety and depression.
Conclusion: There was a statistically significant relationship between anxiety, depression, and functional somatic symptoms, independent of age and gender.
Work With Jim
Jim Prussack Jr., MPT, MMT
Jim Prussack Jr., MPT, MMT is a licensed physical therapist and chronic somatic symptom coach who has been treating pain and other somatic symptoms for over 20 years. He specializes in chronic pain and chronic health issues using a brain and nervous system approach.
