Psychological flexibility and global health in young adults with and without a self-reported functional somatic syndrome ... 2023, Thomas et al.

[Sly Saint]

Full title:
Psychological flexibility and global health in young adults with and without a self-reported functional somatic syndrome: a preliminary investigation
Jenna L. Adamowicz Zoe Sirotiak & Emily B.K. Thomas

ABSTRACT
Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are associated with functional impairments and distress. FSSs are common among young adults, and psychological flexibility may be a transdiagnostic process appropriate for treatment of FSS in this population.

The objective of the current study was to compare physical and mental health in young adults with and without a self-reported FSS and examine which psychological flexibility processes are associated with better physical and mental health in the FSS subset. A total of 447 young adults participated in the current study. Individuals who reported an FSS diagnosis were coded as having a self-reported FSS.

Physical and mental health and psychological flexibility were measured via self-report. FSS and non-FSS groups were compared regarding demographic characteristics and on the primary outcomes. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the role of the psychological flexibility processes in physical and mental health in the FSS subset.

Findings revealed that the FSS group scored significantly lower on measures of physical health and demonstrated less behavioral awareness than the non-FSS group.

No differences regarding mental health were found. All three psychological flexibility processes were associated with physical and mental health, accounting for 26–49% of the variance in these outcomes.

In conclusion, young adults with FSS experience more physical health difficulties than those without FSS. Psychological flexibility processes were related to better physical and mental health in those with FSS. These findings add to the literature and provide preliminary support for psychological flexibility as a future target for intervention development and implementation aimed at young adults with FSS.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13548506.2023.2216940?src=&journalCode=cphm20

 

[Arnie Pye]

Psychological flexibility and global health in young adults with and without a self-reported functional somatic syndrome: a preliminary investigation

Has any patient who knows what it really means ever said to a doctor "I have a self-reported functional somatic syndrome"?

It would be like a patient saying "I am hysterical" or "I suffer from conversion disorder" or "I suffer from neurasthenia" or "I'm mentally ill. Don't waste your time looking for any physical symptoms".

 

[Trish]

Since it's paywalled, I don't know which conditions they included as FSS, especially since they are self reported, so they must have listed some conditions. As @Arnie Pye says, it doesn't seem likely hundreds of young adults would self report having FSS by that name.
Can anyone enlighten us? Also which questionnaires were used to assess 'behavioural awareness' and 'psychological flexibility'.

Looks like yet another post grad student getting a doctorate on the basis of junk psych questionnaires.

Funded by the NIH.

 

[RedFox]

It would be like a patient saying "I am hysterical"

I am now that I read this abstract.

 

[Sid]

Participants were undergrad students who received course credits in exchange for participation.

Participants were presented with a list of FSSs and asked to endorse all conditions that a health professional had informed them they have, including atypical chest pain, CLBP, CFS, non-ulcer dyspepsia, Ehlers Danlos syndrome, FM, hyperventilation syndrome, idiopathic environmental intolerance, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, IBS, multiple chemical sensitivity, post-viral fatigue, unexplained chronic fatigue and unexplained dizziness. Participants included any unlisted condition in an open-ended textbox. Two authors reviewed all free-text responses, coded the presence or absence of an FSS, and discrepancies were discussed with a third coder until 100% agreement was reached.

 

[Sid]

Psychological flexibility
Three core processes of psychological flexibility were measured using the Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy processes (Francis et al.). The 23-items are rated on a 7-point scale. Some items are reverse coded, and then all items are summed, with higher scores indicating higher psychological flexibility. Subscales of the three core processes are calculated: openness to experience (OE), behavioral awareness (BA) and valued action (VA). Internal reliability of the current sample was acceptable (total α = 0.89; OE α = 0.79; BA α = 0.90; VA α = 0.86).

sounds like BS made up concept.

 

[Sean]

In conclusion, young adults with FSS experience more physical health difficulties than those without FSS. Psychological flexibility processes were related to better physical and mental health in those with FSS. These findings add to the literature and provide preliminary support for psychological flexibility as a future target for intervention development and implementation aimed at young adults with FSS.

Did they control for the fact that worse physical health causes worse psychological health?

 

[Sid]

Did they control for the fact that worse physical health causes worse psychological health?

It's a cross-sectional study so it's not possible to establish which comes first. Ofc, they assume that addressing psychological flexibility would treat FSS.

 

[CRG]

sounds like BS made up concept.

Surely not !

The Psychological Flexibility Model: A Basis for Integration and Progress in Psychological Approaches to Chronic Pain Management

"In the current review, we examine models underlying current cognitive behavioral approaches to chronic pain with respect to these criteria. A relatively new model is also presented as an option, and some of its features examined. This model is called the psychological flexibility model. This model fully integrates cognitive and behavioral principles and includes a process-oriented approach of treatment development. So far it appears capable of generating treatment applications that range widely with regard to conditions targeted and modes of delivery and that are increasingly supported by evidence."


Assessing Mindfulness and Acceptance Processes in Clients: