Somatic symptom & related disorders

There are a wide variety of psychiatric terms for patients who have symptoms for which no organic cause can be found:

Somatisation disorder

• multiple physical SYMPTOMS present for at least 2 years
• patient refuses to accept reassurance or negative test results

Diagnostic criteria for somatic symptom disorder

• One or more somatic symptoms that cause distress or significantly disrupt daily life
• Excessive thoughts or behaviors related to the somatic symptoms, as demonstrated by the following:
  • Unwarranted & persistent thoughts about the seriousness of the condition
  • Persistent anxiety about health or symptoms
  • Too much time & energy dedicated to these symptoms
• Symptoms persist for ≥6 months (not all symptoms may be present simultaneously)

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Hypochondriasis

• aka Illness anxiety disorder
• a fear of disease and a preoccupation with the body that manifests through multiple somatic complaints. (i.e. persistent belief in the presence of an underlying serious DISEASE, e.g. cancer)
• The duration of the symptoms in hypochondriasis has to be at least 6 months. Doctor-shopping and stress in the physician-patient relationship are common
• patient again refuses to accept reassurance or negative test results

Conversion Disorder

aka Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)

• typically involves loss of motor or sensory function
• the patient doesn't consciously feign the symptoms (factitious disorder) or seek material gain (malingering)