Somatization disorder

Somatization disorder

Infobox_Disease
Name = PAGENAME


Caption =
DiseasesDB = 1645
ICD10 = ICD10|F|45|0|f|40
ICD9 = ICD9|300.81
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus = 000955
eMedicineSubj = ped
eMedicineTopic = 3015
MeshID = 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.

Criteria

Somatization disorder is a somatoform disorder.cite journal |author=Noyes R, Stuart S, Watson DB, Langbehn DR |title=Distinguishing between hypochondriasis and somatization disorder: a review of the existing literature |journal=Psychother Psychosom |volume=75 |issue=5 |pages=270–81 |year=2006 |pmid=16899963 |doi=10.1159/000093948 |url=http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=PPS2006075005270] The "DSM-IV" establishes the following five criteria for the diagnosis of this disorder: [American Psychiatric Association. (1994). "Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders" (4th ed.). Washington, DC.]
*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, [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 hysteriaand conversion symptoms," "The British Journal of Psychiatry", 114:1121–1125 (1968).] and, according to the DSM-IV, 0.2% of males. [American Psychiatric Association. (1994). "Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders" (4th ed.). Washington, DC.] 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 [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.] and cognitive behavioral therapycite journal |author=Allen LA, Woolfolk RL, Escobar JI, Gara MA, Hamer RM |title=Cognitive-behavioral therapy for somatization disorder: a randomized controlled trial |journal=Arch. Intern. Med. |volume=166 |issue=14 |pages=1512–8 |year=2006 |pmid=16864762 |doi=10.1001/archinte.166.14.1512 |url=http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=16864762] cite journal |author=Mai F |title=Somatization disorder: a practical review |journal=Can J Psychiatry |volume=49 |issue=10 |pages=652–62 |year=2004 |pmid=15560311 |doi=] have been shown to help treat the disorder.

Collaboration between a psychiatrist and primary care physician may help.cite journal |author=Smith GR, Monson RA, Ray DC |title=Psychiatric consultation in somatization disorder. A randomized controlled study |journal=N. Engl. J. Med. |volume=314 |issue=22 |pages=1407–13 |year=1986 |pmid=3084975 |doi=]

References

12. www.epilepsyfoundation.org - the leading organization dedicated to helping those with epilepsy and funding epilepsy research in the United States

ee also

*Culture-bound syndrome
*Psychosomatic illness


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