Discriminating Depressive Patients and Patients with Somatoform Disorders by Means of the Beck Depression Inventory

Ninety-eight patients, 56 suffering according to DSM-IV of unipolar depression and 42 of somatoform disorders, were compared on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) total scale, the subscale of Somatic complaints and the Cognitive-affective subscale. A factor
analysis performed on the total group revealed five factors used to determine new subscales: Depressed mood, Somatic manifestations, Loss of weight and appetite,Negative self-image and Negative social feelings. The scores of the Cognitive-affective subscale and of the subscales of Depressed mood, Loss of weight and appetite and Negative self-image were more pronounced in the group with unipolar depression than in the somatoform disorders group. Since the BDI is multidimensional, using only the total score increases the risk of overestimating depression when somatic complaints are prominent.