Abstract: Objective   To conduct a crosssectional study on the clinical characteristics and regularities of patients with somatic symptom disorder in the cardiology clinic. Methods   A total of 181 patients who met the standards and were waiting in the cardiology clinic of a general hospital in Yantai from January to December 2019 were selected to participate in the study by using a convenient sampling method. The selfcompiled demographic questionnaire and medical attendance questionnaire, SCL90 and structured diagnostic interview were conducted, and the results of SSD group and nonSSD group were statistically analyzed. Results  51(28.2%) of 181 respondents were diagnosed with SSD.There were statistically significant differences between  two groups in gender,age,marital status and feelings of family care(P<0.05, P<0.01).There were statistically significant differences between  two groups in the duration of symptoms,the number of visits in the past one year,whether they had received treatment in the past one year, and the degree of satisfaction with treatment in the past  one year(P<0.01).The results of SCL90 test showed that the score of SSD group, somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, and other factors (diet and sleep) were higher than those of nonSSD group(P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Conclusion  The rate of SSD diagnosis in the cardiology department of general hospitals is similar to that in the department of gastroenterology and Traditional Chinese Medicine, with more females than males, low utilization of social support, long duration of symptoms, and poor mental health status.

Key words: outpatients, signs and symptoms, psychology, social