Kampo Diagnostic Procedure, Fuku shin, Could Be a Useful Diagnostic Tool for Psychopathological Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain

Kampo, or traditional Japanese herbal medicine, has been used for clinical practice in Japan. The most appropriate Kampo formula should be chosen for each individual based on specific diagnostic procedures. Fuku shin, the abdominal exam, is one of the most important diagnostic procedures. There are several Fukushos (abdominal conformations). Depression and anxiety have been shown to be related to Shin ka hi koh, epigastric obstructive hardness, and neuroses have an association with Kyoh kyoh ku man, hypochondriac distress. The aim of our study was to compare Fukushos at each level of depression and anxiety symptoms and to assess the associations between occurrence and pain catastrophizing. Two hundred and twenty-nine patients were assigned to high-, moderate-, or low-level anxiety-depression groups based on the hospital anxiety and depression scale and were investigated for occurrence of major Fukushos. Moreover, the associations between occurrence and the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) were analyzed. The moderate and high anxiety-depression groups showed a higher occurrence of Shin ka hi koh [low, 29%; moderate, 51%; high, 67%] (P < 0.0001). In contrast, the relationship between the occurrence of Kyoh kyoh ku man and the PCS showed a significant albeit small correlation (r(s) = 0.1296, n = 229, P = 0.0491).