"Functional somatic syndromes, one or many?": An answer by cluster analysis
"Functional somatic syndromes, one or many?": An answer by cluster analysis
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.09.013
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发表时间：
2013-01-01
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
van Doornen, Lorenz
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Lacourt, Tamara;Houtveen, Jan;van Doornen, Lorenz
目的：本研究的目的是通过对不明原因的躯体症状患者的不同样本进行k-均值聚类分析，讨论Lumper-Splitter对功能性躯体综合征的讨论。为了支持辩论的Lumper一方，集群应该只在评估的躯体疾病的总体严重性上有所不同。根据Splitters的观点，聚类应该在症状具体模式上有所不同。方法：394名功能性躯体症状的受试者根据他们在47个躯体症状上的得分进行聚类。结果：三种解决方案(k=2、3和4)在总体症状严重程度、症状类型和心理困扰方面进行了比较。结果：在所有三种解决方案中，通过增加症状总分和增加心理困扰来定义聚类。只有当允许更多的集群(三个或四个)时，集群特有的症状模式才明显。结论：在总体症状严重程度不能区分的簇中发现症状特定模式有利于分离者的观点。所有其他集群可以根据总体症状严重程度进行区分，并且两个集群的解决方案最适合，这一发现有利于Lumpers的观点。(C)2012 Elsevier Inc.保留所有权利。
Objective: The aim of the present study was to address the lumper-splitter discussion on functional somatic syndromes by applying k-means cluster analyses on a heterogeneous sample of persons with unexplained somatic complaints. In favor of the lumper-side of the debate, clusters should differ only on the overall severity of the somatic complaints that were assessed. According to the splitters view, clusters should differ in symptom-specific patterns.Methods: Three-hundred ninety four subjects with functional somatic symptoms were clustered based on their scores on 47 somatic symptoms. Three cluster solutions (k=2,3, and 4 clusters) were compared on overall symptom severity, symptom patterns, and psychological distress.Results: Results showed that in all three solutions the clusters were defined by increasing total symptom scores and increasing psychological distress. Cluster-specific symptom patterns where evident only when more clusters (three or four) were allowed. The best fit index was found for a 2-cluster solution.Conclusion: The finding of symptom specific patterns in clusters which could not be differentiated on overall symptom severity is in favor of the splitters' view. The finding that all other clusters could be discriminated on overall symptom severity and that the 2-cluster solution had the best fit is in favor of the lumpers' view. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.