Table 3 Psychological distress of adult patients presenting at a center for rare and undiagnosed diseases and comparative data

Depression (PHQ-8)

mean (SD)

8.9 (5.2)

4.1 (3.9)^c

range

0–24

positive screening for a depressive disorder (PHQ-8 ≥ 10)

66 (40.7%)

42%^a; 30%^b

5.6%^d

no significant depressive symptoms (0–4)

33 (20.4%)

34%^b

76.4%^d

mild (5–9)

63 (38.9%)

36%^b

18.1%^d

moderate (10–14)

45 (27.8%)

14%^b

4.3%^d

moderately severe (15–19)

15 (9.3%)

9%^b

1.3%^d

severe (20–24)

6 (3.7%)

7%^b

missing

5

Anxiety (GAD-7)

mean (SD)

6.4 (5.5)

3.36 (3.4)^c

range

0–20

positive screening for anxiety disorder (GAD-7 ≥ 10)

44 (27.5%)

23%^a; 26%^b

16.6%^e

minimal (0–4)

77 (48.1%)

30%^b

55.1%^e

mild (5–9)

39 (24.4%)

44%^b

28.1%^e

moderate (10–14)

27 (16.9%)

14%^b

9.6%^e

severe (15–21)

17 (10.6%)

12%^b

7.0%^e

missing

7

Somatic symptom severity (PHQ-15)

mean (SD)

12.1 (5.8)

5.5 (3.9)^f

range

0–26

minimal (1–4)

13 (8.5%)

46.8%^f

low (5–9)

41 (26.8%)

38.3%^f

medium (10–14)

45 (29.4%)

11.8%^f

high (15–30); (PHQ-15 ≥ 15)

53 (34.6%)

3.1%^f

missing

14

Patients’ perceptions of their symptom-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (SSD-12)

mean (SD)

24.5 (10.8)

7.9 (9.3)^g

range

0–47

0-48 ^g

high psychological burden (above 90% quantile cut-off of respective age-group)

93 (60%)

missing

10

Positive screening for Somatic Symptom Disorder (PHQ-15 ≥ 9 & SSD-12 ≥ 23)

67 (45%)

14,1%^h

missing

18