Somatic Symptom Disorder

Somatic symptom disorders

________= excessive or maladaptive response to physical symptoms or health concerns.

Mild

Only one of the symptoms in Criterion B is fulfilled

Moderate

Two or more of the symptoms specified in Criterion B are fulfilled

Severe

Two or more of the symptoms specified in Criterion B are fulfilled, plus there are multiple somatic complaints (or one very severe somatic symptom)

Somatic symptom disorder is a relatively

rare condition

Onset usually

in adolescence

More likely to affect

unmarried, low SES women

Runs a

chronic course

Research to date is limited due to

recent redefinition of the disorder in DSM-5

Soma =

body

DSM-5 Criteria: One or more somatic symptoms that

are distressing and/or result in significant disruption of daily life.

DSM-5 Criteria: Excessive

thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the somatic symptoms or associated health concerns as manifested by at least one of the following:

Excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the somatic symptoms or associated health concerns as manifested by at least one of the following: Disproportionate and persistent

thoughts about the seriousness of one’s symptoms

Excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the somatic symptoms or associated health concerns as manifested by at least one of the following: High level of

health-related anxiety

Excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the somatic symptoms or associated health concerns as manifested by at least one of the following: Excessive time and energy devoted to

these symptoms or health concerns.

DSM-5 Criteria: Although any one symptom may not be

continuously present, the state of being symptomatic is persistent (typically more than 6 months).

Specify if: With predominant

pain (previously pain disorder)

With predominant pain (previously pain disorder):

This specifier is for individuals whose somatic complaints predominantly involve pain.

Presence of one or more

somatic symptoms

Symptom is often

medically unexplained

Examples of excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the symptoms

excessive thoughts about seriousness of the symptom, frequent complaints and requests for help, health-related anxiety, excessive research

Substantial impairment in

social or occupational functioning

First identified by

French doctor who noticed patients coming to him with numerous complaints with no medical basis

Formerly called

Briquet’s syndrome