The impact of somatic symptoms on depressive and anxiety symptoms among university students in central Serbia

Ivana Simic Vukomanovic; Goran Mihajlovic; Dragan Milovanovic; Sanja Kocic; Svetlana Radevic; Svetlana Djukic; Vladimir Vukomanovic; Slavica Djukic Dejanovic

doi:10.2298/VSP160617368S

Ivana Simic Vukomanovic Institute of Public Health Kragujevac
Goran Mihajlovic Clinical Center KragujevacFaculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Dragan Milovanovic Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Sanja Kocic Institute of Public Health Kragujevac
Svetlana Radevic Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Svetlana Djukic Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Vladimir Vukomanovic Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Slavica Djukic Dejanovic Clinic for Psychiatry Laza Lazarevic , Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP160617368S

Keywords: depression;, anxiety;, signs and symptoms;, psychophysiologic disorders;, surveys and questionnaires;, students;, serbia

Abstract

Background/Aim. Depression and anxiety problems are a major public health concern due to their high prevalence rates, difficult treatment, and often chronic course. This study examined the impact of somatic symptoms on depressive and anxiety symptoms among university students in Serbia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed among 1,940 students using a questionnaire specially designed for this study which included presence of Somatic and Non-specific Mental Symptoms (SNMS), Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The presence of somatic and associated non-specific mental symptoms over the last six months served as the basis for creating a new variable called SNMS score. Results. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the SNMS score might be a very good marker for the distinction of students with or without depressive symptoms (area = 0.754, p < 0.05). The threshold value was 8.50 (sensitivity 67.6%, specificity 69.4%). Binary logistic regression showed that Odds ratio was 1.052 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.045–1.059], which means that an increase in the value of the SNMS score by 1 increases the risk of depressive symptoms by 5.2%. ROC curve showed that the SNMS score might be an excellent marker for the distinction of students with or without anxiety symptoms (area = 0.800, p < 0.05). Limit value (cut-off) was 7.50 (sensitivity 74.2%, specificity 71.6%). Binary logistic regression showed that odds ratio was 1.056 (95% CI 1.049–1.064), which means that increasing the value of SNMS score by 1 increases the risk of anxiety symptoms by 5.6%. Conclusion. The SNMS score might be a state marker for the screening and distinction of students with depressive symptoms, and excellent state marker for screening and making distinction between students with anxiety symptoms and the students who do not have these symptoms.

Author Biographies

Ivana Simic Vukomanovic, Institute of Public Health Kragujevac

Social medicine department

Goran Mihajlovic, Clinical Center KragujevacFaculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac

Clinic for Psychiatry

Sanja Kocic, Institute of Public Health Kragujevac

Social medicine department

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