The authors assessed the validity of the recently proposed diagnosis for specific somatoform disorder in the general population. German versions of the DSM-IV adapted Composite International Diagnostic Interview were administered to a representative sample of 4075 individuals. Multivariate analyses were used to compare impairment, life satisfaction, and use of health care. A total of 803 of 407...

BACKGROUND About 10% of the general population report multiple and persisting physical symptoms resulting in extensive screening but with no organic explanation found. OBJECTIVE The authors sought to determine whether these somatoform-disorder patients show characteristics of the affective disorder spectrum, with the cyclothymic temperament likely showing the highest specificity for somatofor...

The authors studied interventions recommended by consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatrists when they diagnosed somatoform disorder prospectively in a cohort of 4,401 consecutive inpatients referred to the C-L psychiatry service of a general teaching hospital, using standardized MICRO-CARES methodology. A DSM-III-R somatoform disorder was diagnosed in 2.9%, somatoform pain disorder in 1.4%, conve...

The somatoform disorders are a group of psychiatric disorders that cause unexplained physical symptoms. They include somatization disorder (involving multisystem physical symptoms), undifferentiated somatoform disorder (fewer symptoms than somatization disorder), conversion disorder (voluntary motor or sensory function symptoms), pain disorder (pain with strong psychological involvement), hypoc...

OBJECTIVE To review the literature on somatoform disorders in children and adolescents relevant to recertification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. METHOD The psychiatric, pediatric, and psychological literatures were searched for clinical or research articles in the past 10 years dealing with somatization and somatoform disorders. RESULTS Somatizing presentations are orga...

As the DSM-V process unfolds, Somatoform Disorders are a diagnostic category for which major revisions seem warranted. The Conceptual Issues in Somatoform and Similar Disorders (CISSD) project recently convened three workshops, involving 24 experts. The CISSD identified key questions related to stakeholders; terminology; appropriate axis (I versus III); medically unexplained criteria; status of...

background: somatoform disorders referred to group of mental disorders designated by physical symptoms without medical conditions, direct effect of medications or other recognized mental disorder. the objective of this study was determining of epidemiology and frequency of somatoform disorders in kermanshah. methods: the epidemiologic data were obtained on the basis of a 26-item questionnaire f...

OBJECTIVE To study the differences in levels of alexithymia, depression, and anxiety between a sample of adolescents diagnosed with ICD-10 persistent somatoform pain disorder (defined by the DSM-IV as a pain disorder associated with psychological factors) and healthy adolescent control subjects. METHOD Using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, we inves...

For some time, society’s emphasis on appearance has negatively affected women. Now we’re finding increasing numbers of men who are also overly dissatisfied with their bodies. This trend has led to a new disorder, muscle dysmorphia (MD), which is characterized by a preoccupation with muscularity accompanied by perceptual, affective, and behavioral components that interfere with daily activities....