What outcome measures indicate successful SSRD treatment?

• A. Reduced functional impairment, decreased preoccupation with symptoms, improved quality of life, and lower health care utilization.
• B. Increased functional impairment and more symptom preoccupation.
• C. No change in health care utilization.
• D. Worse quality of life.

Answer: (D)

In SSRD, true treatment success shows multidimensional improvement: functioning gets better, attention and worry about the symptoms decreases, overall quality of life improves, and there’s a drop in health care use because distress and healthcare-seeking behaviors lessen. When you see all those areas moving in a positive direction together, it indicates the distress driving the somatic symptoms is abating and daily life is functioning more normally. Conversely, worse quality of life, increased impairment, greater symptom preoccupation, or no change in health care utilization point to an unsuccessful outcome. So the best indicator is the combination of improved functioning, reduced symptom focus, better quality of life, and lower health care use.