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A person with somatoform disorder experiences bodily symptoms or feelings that are not explained by a physical illness.
Significant anxiety and impairment in everyday living can result from these symptoms. Even when no underlying medical problem can be discovered, a person with somatoform disorder may become overly preoccupied with their bodily symptoms and frequently seek medical attention.
According to the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the somatoform disorder is now categorized as a bodily symptom condition. It can be treated with counseling, medication and behavioral modifications.
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Types of somatoform disorder
A somatoform disorder can be identified by ideas, feelings and behaviors that are connected to somatic signs. People exhibit a wide range of clinically important symptoms that are medically undiagnosable.
The following are the various types:
1) Somatization disorder
When a person consistently complains of bodily symptoms but no underlying medical disease is to blame, it's known as somatization disorder.
For a somatization disorder to be diagnosed, a person must have bodily symptoms that are unexplained, beginning before age 30, and lasting for years. That includes discomfort, gastrointestinal complaints, sexual problems and neurological issues.
2) Conversion disorder
When physical signs resemble those of a neurological disease, but there's no neurological disorder present, a conversion disorder develops.
Paralysis, loss of hearing, eyesight, or convulsions are just a few possible symptoms. Trauma is typically the cause of a conversion disorder, which affects a person's perceptions and mobility.
3) Pain disorder
Unknown causes of recurrent pain in one or more body parts are the hallmark of the somatoform pain condition.
When pain cannot be explained by a medical condition or another disorder, when pain produces significant distress, and when psychological variables significantly influence the onset, severity and length of the pain, a diagnostic of a pain disorder is made.
4) Hypochondriasis
When a person harbors the delusion that common bodily symptoms or signs point to a serious disease, despite the results of tests and evaluations to the contrary, it's known as hypochondriasis. Physical signs can be imaginary or genuine.
Somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder have taken the position of hypochondriasis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) fifth version. You may often find people with this disorder visit doctors frequently and get frequent tests done.
5) Somatoform disorder not otherwise specified
When signs match many of the necessary factors for a somatoform disorder diagnosis, but not all of them, the term 'somatoform disorder not otherwise specified' is used.
This designation may apply to the following presentations:
- Brief illness with somatic signs
- Anxiety in the short term
- Illness anxiety without being overly concerned with health behaviors
6) Undifferentiated somatoform disorder
It refers to people who exhibit symptoms typical of somatic disorders but do not fully satisfy the requirements for any somatoform disorder. It's similar to the diagnostic of particular somatic symptoms and related disorders.
The diagnosis of undifferentiated somatic sensations and associated conditions should only be made in exceptional circumstances or when there's inadequate data to make a more precise diagnosis.
Common symptoms of the disorder
The most frequent symptom is pain, but no matter what your symptoms are, you have extra thoughts, emotions or behaviors related to them that lead to serious issues, making it challenging to function, and in some cases can be incapacitating.
- Ongoing concerns about a possible disease
- Interpreting common bodily aches and pains as symptoms of a serious physical condition
- Fear of symptoms being severe despite lack of proof
- Believing that physical feelings are dangerous or menacing
- Feeling that the medical diagnosis and therapy received have not been sufficient
- Be concerned that exercising could harm your health
- Periodically examining your body for anomalies
- Frequent medical appointments that don't allay your worries or exacerbate them
- Not responding to medical interventions or having abnormally high sensitivity to drug adverse effects
- Having a medical disease that causes a more serious disability than is typically anticipated
The way you perceive and respond to these symptoms, as well as how you deal with them, is more crucial for somatic symptom disorder than the particular bodily symptoms you experience.
The most crucial aspect of your treatment is going in for routine checks with your doctor. How frequently your doctor needs to see you will be disclosed by your doctor.
If your symptoms persist, you could feel disappointed, but keep in mind that somatoform disorder can be very challenging to cure. Your doctor will make every effort to assist you in keeping you healthy.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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