Cognitive distortions of somatic experiences: revision and validation of a measure

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cognitive distortions of somatic experiences

T2 - revision and validation of a measure

AU - Moss-Morris, R

AU - Petrie, K J

PY - 1997/9

Y1 - 1997/9

N2 - The article reports on the revision of the Cognitive Errors Questionnaire (CEQ). The CEQ which was originally developed to measure cognitive distortions specific to chronic pain, has been significantly shortened and made applicable to a wider range of somatic problems. The Cognitive Errors Questionnaire-Revised (CEQ-R) contains two subscales: Somatic--distortions specific to somatic experiences; and General--distortions to everyday life events. Validation of the scale with CFS, depressed, and chronic pain groups and healthy controls confirms the CEQ-R loads onto general and somatic factors. Both subscales have high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability. The pattern of subjects' responses to the CEQ-R scores showed that the depressed group scored significantly higher on the General CEQ-R scale than the other groups, whereas the CFS and chronic pain groups scored higher than healthy controls on the Somatic CEQ-R. Somatic CEQ-R scores showed a significant decrease over the course of a pain management program, with a concomitant decrease in disability and depression scores. Further analyses showed the Somatic CEQ-R to be significantly related to self and symptom focusing, whereas the General CEQ-R was found to be significantly correlated with higher depression, lower self-esteem, and self focusing. The CEQ-R may be a useful instrument to examine the relationship between cognitive distortions and disability in a variety of illnesses, and to differentiate primary depression from overlapping somatic disorders.

AB - The article reports on the revision of the Cognitive Errors Questionnaire (CEQ). The CEQ which was originally developed to measure cognitive distortions specific to chronic pain, has been significantly shortened and made applicable to a wider range of somatic problems. The Cognitive Errors Questionnaire-Revised (CEQ-R) contains two subscales: Somatic--distortions specific to somatic experiences; and General--distortions to everyday life events. Validation of the scale with CFS, depressed, and chronic pain groups and healthy controls confirms the CEQ-R loads onto general and somatic factors. Both subscales have high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability. The pattern of subjects' responses to the CEQ-R scores showed that the depressed group scored significantly higher on the General CEQ-R scale than the other groups, whereas the CFS and chronic pain groups scored higher than healthy controls on the Somatic CEQ-R. Somatic CEQ-R scores showed a significant decrease over the course of a pain management program, with a concomitant decrease in disability and depression scores. Further analyses showed the Somatic CEQ-R to be significantly related to self and symptom focusing, whereas the General CEQ-R was found to be significantly correlated with higher depression, lower self-esteem, and self focusing. The CEQ-R may be a useful instrument to examine the relationship between cognitive distortions and disability in a variety of illnesses, and to differentiate primary depression from overlapping somatic disorders.

KW - Severity of Illness Index

KW - Probability

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Attitude to Health

KW - Humans

KW - Pain

KW - Personality Inventory

KW - Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic

KW - Psychometrics

KW - Cognition

KW - Health Status Indicators

KW - Adaptation, Psychological

KW - Adult

KW - Chronic Disease

KW - Female

KW - Male

U2 - 10.1016/S0022-3999(97)00020-2

DO - 10.1016/S0022-3999(97)00020-2

M3 - Article

C2 - 9304555

SN - 0022-3999

VL - 43

SP - 293

EP - 306

JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

IS - 3

ER -