An Introduction to Somatoform Disorders

What Is Somatoform Disorder?

Somatoform disorder is a mental health condition that is characterised by physical symptoms that are significant but cannot be explained. These can lead to severe distress in people and impairment in functioning. Having no specific symptom or reason for the pain can often leave both, the patient and physician frustrated and one might not know in such a situation. According to a study, almost 50% of people state that they cannot explain the pain with any general medical condition.

As per Lipsitt, & Starcevic, 2006, “somatisation, the physical expression of emotional distress, is a process and not a disorder unless it interferes with comfort, work and quality of life to the degree that it leads to consultation with physicians, use of medication, and adoption of the sick role”.

Also read: How Does Anxiety Affect Your Physical Health?

Types of Somatoform disorders

These are the types of somatoform disorders where individuals experience a multitude of clinically significant symptoms that cannot be explained:

• Somatisation disorder: Somatisation disorder is when a person constantly has complaints of physical symptoms while there is no particular condition present to cause the symptoms.

• Conversion disorder: A conversion disorder means when the physical symptoms mimic symptoms of a neurological disorder while there is no neurological disorder present. For example, one might have symptoms such as loss of sensation, hearing loss, seizures, and paralysis.

• Pain disorder: Somatoform pain disorder occurs when a person indicates of recurring pain in one or more parts of the body with no known cause. 

• Hypochondriasis: Hypochondriasis mean when one believes that normal bodily signs or minor symptoms indicate severe illness. Even though medical tests and assessments conclude no illness. For example, a person who has a minor headache might believe they have a brain tumor.

• Body dysmorphic disorder: Body dysmorphic disorder is classified as a somatoform disorder, which occurs when one believes an imagined defect in appearance.

How can a somatoform disorder be diagnosed?

Somatoform disorder symptoms cannot be identified or explained. The symptoms and intensity vary for each individual. One might strongly feel pain which can cause severe disruptions in everyday life. 

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, the following points come under the diagnostic criteria of somatic symptom disorder:

• You are experiencing more than one somatic symptom such as pain or fatigue that interrupts your daily functioning. 

• You feel severely stressed and have persistent anxious thoughts about the seriousness of your symptoms.

• These symptoms continue for at least six months with (possibly) varying severity.

These symptoms can lead to actions like frequent or excessive visits to a doctor, fear of life, persistent stress,  mistrust or paranoia towards medical assessments or diagnoses. 

Also read: 5 Therapist Recommended Techniques to Deal With Intrusive Thoughts

Treatment of somatic symptom disorders

The treatment for somatoform disorders usually includes psychotherapy because these symptoms are often related to some underlying psychological belief that one clings to. The most common type of psychotherapy is Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). this helps the person address their cognitive distortions, false beliefs, worry, anxiety, or thoughts that give rise to somatic symptoms. CBT can also help a person examine these symptoms and reduce obsessive thoughts about them. This can help them cope with their emotional and physical symptoms better.

Somatoform disorders can make a person feel severely distressed because of the lack of belief that others might show. They might feel like they are being denied or neglected. One must know that somatoform disorders can be treated with the right treatment and guidance from a therapist or psychiatrist. Remember, you don’t have to deal with the struggle alone.