What is Somatic Symptom Disorder?

 

Somatic symptom disorder is diagnosed when a person has a significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath, to a level that results in major distress and/or problems functioning. The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings and behaviors relating to the physical symptoms. The physical symptoms may or may not be associated with a diagnosed medical condition, but the person is experiencing symptoms and believes they are sick (that is, not faking the illness).

A person is not diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder solely because a medical cause can’t be identified for a physical symptom. The emphasis is on the extent to which the thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to the illness are excessive or out of proportion.

Diagnosis

• One or more physical symptoms that are distressing or cause disruption in daily life
• Excessive thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to the physical symptoms or health concerns with at least one of the following:
  • Ongoing thoughts that are out of proportion with the seriousness of symptoms
  • Ongoing high level of anxiety about health or symptoms
  • Excessive time and energy spent on the symptoms or health concerns
• At least one symptom is constantly present, although there may be different symptoms and symptoms may come and go

People with somatic symptom disorder typically go to a primary care physician rather than a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. Individuals with somatic symptom disorder may experience difficulty accepting that their concerns about their symptoms are excessive. They may continue to be fearful and worried even when they are shown evidence that they do not have a serious condition. Some people have only pain as their dominant symptom. Somatic symptom disorder usually begins by age 30.   more