Abstract
Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) have been found to frequently present in primary care and are often associated with greater distress and impaired functioning. Past studies have found that those with a history of psychological trauma, and particularly those who had subsequently developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were more likely to report a higher number of FSS. However, there is currently limited research on the demographic, psychological and social risk factors that are associated with FSS in those with comorbid FSS and PTSD. The present study aimed to explore whether such factors are associated with a greater number of FSS in those with various levels of PTSD, and further investigate whether the number of FSS is associated with PTSD treatment engagement. A series of bivariate and multivariate statistical tests were conducted to analyse data obtained from two different samples: secondary data from a clinical sample of 100 individuals accessing treatment at a PTSD specialist service, and survey data collected from 41 self-identified members in the community with some level of PTSD symptoms. Overall, a high prevalence of FSS was found in both samples. For those accessing PTSD treatment, FSS did not appear to be associated with treatment engagement, however, there was some evidence that those with more symptoms were more functionally impaired. Although PTSD severity was found to be of significance, no other demographic, psychological or social risk factors were associated with the number of FSS. This may imply that current PTSD treatments may not need to be modified for individuals with comorbid FSS, and that there are no particular demographic groups at higher risk of having more FSS. These findings, however, should be interpreted with caution due to several methodological limitations. Future studies which are more methodologically robust should aim to replicate the present study using a more diverse sample.