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| Somatization disorder Classification and external resources |
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| ICD-10 | F45.0 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 300.81 |
| DiseasesDB | 1645 |
| MedlinePlus | 000955 |
| eMedicine | ped/3015 |
| MeSH | D013001 |
Somatization disorder (also Briquet's disorder or, in antiquity, hysteria) is a psychiatric diagnosis applied to patients who chronically and persistently complain of varied physical symptoms that have no identifiable physical origin. One common general etiological explanation is that internal psychological conflicts are unconsciously expressed as physical signs. Patients with Somatization Disorder will typically visit many doctors trying to get the treatment they think they need.
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Criteria
Somatization disorder is a somatoform disorder.[1] The DSM-IV establishes the following five criteria for the diagnosis of this disorder: [2]
- a history of somatic symptoms prior to the age of 30
- pain in at least four different sites on the body
- two gastrointestinal problems other than pain such as vomiting or diarrhea
- one sexual symptom such as lack of interest or erectile dysfunction
- one pseudoneurological symptom similar to those seen in Conversion disorder such as fainting or blindness.
Such symptoms cannot be related to any medical condition. The symptoms do not all have to be occurring at the same time, but may occur over the course of the disorder. If a medical condition is present, then the symptoms must be excessive enough to warrant a separate diagnosis. Two symptoms cannot be counted for the same thing e.g.if pain during intercourse is counted as a sexual symptom it cannot be counted as a pain symptom. Finally, the symptoms cannot be being feigned out of an effort to gain attention or anything else by being sick, and they cannot be deliberately induced symptoms.
It is important to note that people suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy are often misdiagnosed as having somatization disorder. This occurs because their seizures are not convulsive, sometimes involve hallucinations, and are often difficult to capture on an EEG.
Prevalence
Somatization disorder is not common in the general population. It is thought to occur in 0.2% to 2% of females,[3][4][5][6] and, according to the DSM-IV, 0.2% of males.[7] There is usually co-morbidity with other psychological disorders, particularly mood or anxiety disorders. This condition is chronic and has a poor prognosis.
Treatment
Not one treatment has been found to cure somatization disorder. However, setting up a physician that screens complaints from patients before they are allowed to see a specialist significantly cuts down on cost of the disorder. Antidepressants[8] and cognitive behavioral therapy[9][10] have been shown to help treat the disorder.
Collaboration between a psychiatrist and primary care physician may help.[11]
References
- ^ Noyes R, Stuart S, Watson DB, Langbehn DR (2006). "Distinguishing between hypochondriasis and somatization disorder: a review of the existing literature". Psychother Psychosom 75 (5): 270–81. doi:. PMID 16899963.
- ^ American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC.
- ^ deGruy F, Columbia L, Dickinson P. (1987) "Somatization disorder in a family practice," J Fam Pract., 25(1):45–51.
- ^ Lichstein, P. R. (1986). "Caring for the patient with multiple somatic complaints," Southern Medical Journal, 79(3), 310-314
- ^ Gordon, G.H. (1987). "Treating somatizing patients," Western Journal of Medicine, 147, 88-91.
- ^ Farley J, Woodruff RA, Guze SB (1968). "The prevalence of hysteria and conversion symptoms," The British Journal of Psychiatry, 114:1121–1125 (1968).
- ^ American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC.
- ^ Stahl, S.M. (2003). Antidepressants and somatic symptoms: Therapeutic actions are expanding beyond affective spectrum disorders to functional somatic syndromes. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64(7), 745-746.
- ^ Allen LA, Woolfolk RL, Escobar JI, Gara MA, Hamer RM (2006). "Cognitive-behavioral therapy for somatization disorder: a randomized controlled trial". Arch. Intern. Med. 166 (14): 1512–8. doi:. PMID 16864762.
- ^ Mai F (2004). "Somatization disorder: a practical review". Can J Psychiatry 49 (10): 652–62. PMID 15560311.
- ^ Smith GR, Monson RA, Ray DC (1986). "Psychiatric consultation in somatization disorder. A randomized controlled study". N. Engl. J. Med. 314 (22): 1407–13. PMID 3084975.
12. www.epilepsyfoundation.org - the leading organization dedicated to helping those with epilepsy and funding epilepsy research in the United States
See also
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 21 September 2008, at 03:05.
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