Validity of the Ghent Multidimensional Somatic Complaints Scale in a clinical sample

Beirens, Koen; Fontaine, Johnny R.J.

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.11.008

« Previous Next »Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 68, Issue 6 , Pages 535-538, June 2010

Validity of the Ghent Multidimensional Somatic Complaints Scale in a clinical sample

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium

Received 22 April 2009; received in revised form 19 November 2009; accepted 30 November 2009. published online 22 January 2010.

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the validity of the Ghent Multidimensional Somatic Complaints Scale (GMSCS) in a Clinical Sample.

Method

Three hundred fifty-four non-clinical subjects and 151 clinical patients completed the GMSCS, an 18-item five-factorial scale for the assessment of somatic complaints.

Results

The five-factorial structure was reliable and valid in the non-clinical as well as the clinical sample. Furthermore, group differences after controlling for the other factors were only significant for pain and fatigue.

Conclusion

The GMSCS is a suitable multidimensional scale for assessing five clusters of somatic complaints in a clinical (primary care and pain patients) and non-clinical population.

Keywords: Somatic complaints, Assessment, Factor structure