Assessment of Somatic Symptom in Chinese Community-Dwelling People

September 25, 2025 updated by: RenJi Hospital

A Comparison of Somatic Symptom Among Elderly and Non-elderly in Chinese Community-Dwelling People

With the rapid aging and worsening psychological problems worldwide, the special focus on somatic symptom and other psychological diseases of the older population is needed. However, there is no research comparing the incidence of somatic symptom between elderly and non-elderly, and clinical relevance with somatic symptom is uncertain. The study aims to clarify the prevalence of somatic symptom, depression and anxiety disorders in China, to compare physical and psychological difference between the elderly and non-elderly and to explore risk factors for somatic symptom in the elderly.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

With the steadily increasing of life expectancy, the aging people is expected to 2 billion by 2050, which brings the deeper demand on the quality of life improvement. The psychological problems is an important factor affecting the quality of life. As reported, 73.6% of urban residents were with mental sub-health, indicating that psychological problem has grown into inevitable issues in hindering healthy development. The elderly, compared with the non-elderly, have unique social and biological characteristics, so psychological problem of the older population deserves special focus. Literatures have investigated aged people with depression or anxiety disorder, but somatic symptom in elderly have rarely been addressed. Somatic symptom disorder prevalence in elderly in European ranged from 0-13.5%. However, there is no research comparing the incidence of somatic symptom, anxiety and depression between elderly and non-elderly and revealing the prevalence of somatic symptom under Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria.

Investigators use Somatic Symptom Scale-China (SSS-CN) questionnaire to assess the presence and severity of the symptoms. Patient Heath Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) are used to evaluate depression and anxiety disorder respectively. The study aims to clarify the prevalence of somatic symptom, depression and anxiety disorders in China, to compare physical and psychological difference between the elderly and non-elderly and to explore risk factors for somatic symptom in the elderly.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

9110

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • China
      • Shanghai, China
        • Renji Hospital
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200127
        • Renji Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

subjects are enrolled between March 2019 and June 2019 in 105 representative community health service institutions in Shanghai, China.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. voluntary participants and gave written consent to participates the study;
  2. undertook SSS-CN questionnaire, PHQ-9 and GAD questionnaires；

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. patients who have lost their self-assessed abilities or refuse to participate ;
  2. patient with cancer and central nervous system disease;
  3. patients who have been previously confirmed serious mental disorders, mental retardation or dementia.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Ecologic or Community
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Elderly
Over 60 years old
Diagnostic test: Assessment of somatic symptom disorder with SSS-CN
SSS-CN questionnaire is used to assess the presence and severity of the somatic symptoms
Diagnostic test: Assessment of depressive symptoms disorder with PHQ-9
PHQ-9 questionnaire is used to assess the presence and severity of the depressive symptoms
Diagnostic test: Assessment of anxiety disorder with GAD-7
GAD-7 questionnaire is used to assess the presence and severity of the anxiety disorder
Non-Elderly
Under 60 years old
Diagnostic test: Assessment of somatic symptom disorder with SSS-CN
SSS-CN questionnaire is used to assess the presence and severity of the somatic symptoms
Diagnostic test: Assessment of depressive symptoms disorder with PHQ-9
PHQ-9 questionnaire is used to assess the presence and severity of the depressive symptoms
Diagnostic test: Assessment of anxiety disorder with GAD-7
GAD-7 questionnaire is used to assess the presence and severity of the anxiety disorder

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Somatic Symptoms Disorder
Time Frame: Within 24 hours of the questionnaire completion.
The scores of Somatic Symptom Scale-China (SSS-CN) questionnaire were recorded. The score higher than 20 was taken as somatic symptom disorder. Percentage of somatic symptom disorder in elderly and in non-elderly were analyzed.
Within 24 hours of the questionnaire completion.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Somatic Symptoms Disorder Accompanied With Anxiety
Time Frame: Within 24 hours of the questionnaire completion.
anxiety disorder were assessed by Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). The percentage of anxiety disorder among the participants with somatic symptoms disorder were analyzed.
Within 24 hours of the questionnaire completion.
Number of Participants With Somatic Symptoms Disorder Accompanied With Depression
Time Frame: Within 24 hours of the questionnaire completion.
Depressive disorder were assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The percentage of depressive disorder among the participants with somatic symptoms disorder were analyzed.
Within 24 hours of the questionnaire completion.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

RenJi Hospital

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Meng Jiang, MD, RenJi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiantong University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 1, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 6, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 22, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

October 15, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 25, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SSSCN202011

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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