Doctor dissatisfaction can have a negative impact on patient recovery. Low scores suggest a positive therapeutic alliance. Excessive support could be enabling if symptom magnification is present. This scale assesses a tendency towards diffuse physical complaints. There are ten symptom categories represented with a total number of 27 items, drawn from symptoms often seen in Somatoform disorders, Briquet 's syndrome and related conditions.
High scores suggest a tendency towards diffuse physical complaints and somatization.
The scale facilitates the cross-validation of the patient's physical symptoms by mental health and medical providers. If physical symptoms are not consistent with objective medical findings, than a psychological origin of the symptoms is suggested. The 0-10 pain scale is commonly used, but the BHI's version of this is the first one to be nationally validated. This scale assesses pain in ten areas of the body. This can help to determine whether pain complaints are consistent with what is seen in the average patient, or if pain magnification or preoccupation is present.