Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Somatoform disorders—now known as somatic symptom and related disorders—aremental health conditionsthat involve extreme health-related anxiety and a preoccupation with persistent somatic (physical) symptoms.These symptoms cause a person a disproportionate amount of distress and impair their daily functioning.
Mental and physical health are interdependent and interconnected. The mind-body connection likely plays a role in the development of certain somatoform disorders, which can be related to stress,depression, and/or trauma in addition to debilitating physical symptoms.
Read on to learn more about somatoform disorders, including types, symptoms, and treatment options.
SDI Productions / Getty Images
What Are Somatoform Disorders?
Some people constantly research their health condition(s), seek out excessive specialized testing, and/or visit providers frequently. On the other hand, some people with the disorder go out of their way to avoid medical treatment because of their health anxiety.
It’s important to realize that people with somatic symptom disorder are not faking their symptoms. If you have a somatoform disorder, your distress—both physical and mental—is not “all in your head.”
According to theDSM-5criteria, someone with somatic symptom disorder may or may not have a medical condition that’s causing them symptoms. Still, they have a disproportionate reaction to the symptoms and devote excessive amounts of time and energy to thinking about, worrying about, and monitoring their health.
Somatoform Disorders and StigmaPeople with somatoform disorders are often concerned about potential stigma, both within the clinical setting and in their everyday lives. Studies suggest that there is an ongoing bias against people with somatoform disorders, which can lead some people with medically unexplained symptoms to internalize stigma and avoid seeking help.
Somatoform Disorders and Stigma
People with somatoform disorders are often concerned about potential stigma, both within the clinical setting and in their everyday lives. Studies suggest that there is an ongoing bias against people with somatoform disorders, which can lead some people with medically unexplained symptoms to internalize stigma and avoid seeking help.
Steps to Take if Your Provider Tells You It’s All in Your Head
Types of Somatoform Disorders
TheDSM-5includes the following diagnoses within the category of somatic symptom and related disorders (previously known as somatoform disorders):
Psychological factors affecting other conditions—such as denying the presence of symptoms or avoiding necessary treatment due to mental health concerns—are also included under the umbrella of somatic symptom and related disorders.
Mental health providers may use the categories of “other somatic symptom and related disorder” or “unspecified somatic symptom and related disorder” to refer to conditions that fit some, but not all, of the diagnostic criteria of one of the above disorders.
Body dysmorphic disorder(BDD)—in which a person has an overwhelming, persistent preoccupation with perceived flaws in their physical appearance—was previously included within the category of somatoform disorders. In theDSM-5, BDD was recategorized under the umbrella of “obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.”
How Common Is Somatic Symptom Disorder?Within the general population, an estimated 5%-7% of people meet the criteria for somatic symptom disorder.
How Common Is Somatic Symptom Disorder?
Within the general population, an estimated 5%-7% of people meet the criteria for somatic symptom disorder.
Somatoform Disorder Symptoms
Common symptoms of illness anxiety disorder include:
The symptoms of conversion disorder, or functional neurological symptom disorder, include:
The signs and symptoms of factitious disorder include:
All About Anxiety Rash
There is no single underlying cause of somatic symptom disorder and related conditions. However, some of the risk factors for somatoform disorders include:
Many people are diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder or related disorders after initially visiting another healthcare provider, such as a primary care physician, about their physical symptoms. Your provider may refer you to apsychiatristor therapist if they think that your symptoms are causing you a disproportionate level of anxiety and distress, or if your preoccupation with your health concerns is impairing your day-to-day functioning.
Your provider can diagnose you with somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, or functional neurological symptom disorder using the criteria in theDSM-5.
If you are experiencing any physical symptoms—such as dizziness, pain, fatigue, or a racing heart— it’s important to see a healthcare provider for a thorough medical examination. Up to 8% of people diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder have an organic disease, meaning a health condition that is observable and can be found through medical tests.
You may also have a treatable functional disorder—a medical condition that causes physical symptoms with no single known, quantifiable cause—such asfibromyalgiaorirritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Your provider may refer you to a specialist who can treat your specific symptoms.
Once any underlying organic disease has been ruled out, treatment for somatic symptom disorder may involve one or more of the following approaches:
Seek HelpIf you or a loved one is struggling with symptoms of a mental health condition, you can find accessible resources at ourNational Helpline Database.
Seek Help
If you or a loved one is struggling with symptoms of a mental health condition, you can find accessible resources at ourNational Helpline Database.
How an Organic Disease Differs from a Functional Disorder
Summary
People with somatoform disorders, now called somatic symptom and related disorders, experience both physical symptoms—such as dizziness, pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort—and extreme anxiety or distress about those symptoms.
The category of somatic symptom and related disorders includes somatic symptom disorder (SSD), illness anxiety disorder (IAD), conversion disorder, and factitious disorder, as well as psychological factors affecting other conditions.
There’s no agreed-upon, universal cause for somatic symptom and related disorders. Genetics, environment, stress, trauma, and a history of severe illness may increase your risk. People withcomorbidmental health conditions are more likely to develop both unexplained medical symptoms and health-related anxiety.
Treatment for somatic symptom and related disorders typically involves psychotherapy and/or medication. You should also be tested and treated for any possible underlying physical conditions.
7 Easy Somatic Exercises for a Healthier Mind and Body
A Word from Verywell
You might be afraid to reach out to a healthcare provider for help if you have worrying physical symptoms, but it’s important that you do. If you think you may have a somatoform disorder, talk to your provider about diagnosis and treatment.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWithin the category of somatic symptom and related disorders (which replaced somatoform disorders in theDSM-5)there are four main disorders: somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), and factitious disorder.The category also includes other specified somatic symptom and related disorders, psychological factors affecting other conditions, and unspecified somatic symptom and related disorders.People with somatic symptom disorder typically experience extreme emotional distress in response to troubling medical symptoms.Common symptoms associated with somatic symptom disorder include shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, and pain. There may or may not be an underlying physical condition associated with the symptoms.If you have unexplained medical symptoms, it’s important to talk to your primary healthcare provider to rule out any underlying physical causes. They can refer you to a mental health provider, such as a therapist or psychiatrist, if necessary. Your symptoms may also have both physical and psychological causes, so it’s important to treat them both.
Within the category of somatic symptom and related disorders (which replaced somatoform disorders in theDSM-5)there are four main disorders: somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), and factitious disorder.The category also includes other specified somatic symptom and related disorders, psychological factors affecting other conditions, and unspecified somatic symptom and related disorders.
Within the category of somatic symptom and related disorders (which replaced somatoform disorders in theDSM-5)there are four main disorders: somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), and factitious disorder.
The category also includes other specified somatic symptom and related disorders, psychological factors affecting other conditions, and unspecified somatic symptom and related disorders.
People with somatic symptom disorder typically experience extreme emotional distress in response to troubling medical symptoms.Common symptoms associated with somatic symptom disorder include shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, and pain. There may or may not be an underlying physical condition associated with the symptoms.
People with somatic symptom disorder typically experience extreme emotional distress in response to troubling medical symptoms.
Common symptoms associated with somatic symptom disorder include shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, and pain. There may or may not be an underlying physical condition associated with the symptoms.
If you have unexplained medical symptoms, it’s important to talk to your primary healthcare provider to rule out any underlying physical causes. They can refer you to a mental health provider, such as a therapist or psychiatrist, if necessary. Your symptoms may also have both physical and psychological causes, so it’s important to treat them both.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders.
American Psychological Association.Somatoform Disorder.
Ezra Y, Hammerman O, Shahar G.The four-cluster spectrum of mind-body interrelationships: an integrative model.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:39. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00039
American Psychiatric Association.What Is Somatic Symptom Disorder?.
van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, van Houdenhove B.DSM-5: van somatoforme stoornissen naar ‘somatic symptom and related disorders’ [DSM-5: from ‘somatoform disorders’ to ‘somatic symptom and related disorders’].Tijdschr Psychiatr. 2014;56(3):182-186.
Eger Aydogmus M.Social stigma towards people with medically unexplained symptoms: the somatic symptom disorder.Psychiatr Q. 2020;91(2):349-361. doi:10.1007/s11126-019-09704-6
American Psychological Association.Illness Anxiety Disorder.
American Psychological Association.Conversion Disorder.
National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Conversion Disorder.
American Psychological Association.Factitious Disorder.
American Psychological Association.Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Alalawi NM, Al Salmani AA, Aljabri MK, et al.Epidemiology and prevalence of somatic symptom disorder at the primary care level in Muscat, Oman: a cross-sectional study.Int J Psychiatry Med. 2022;912174221088263. doi:10.1177/00912174221088263
U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Table 3.31, DSM-IV to DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder comparison.
Kurlansick SL, Maffei MS.Somatic symptom disorder.Am Fam Physician.2016;93(1):49-54A
Henningsen P.Management of somatic symptom disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018;20(1):23-31. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/phenningsen
National Health Service.Medically Unexplained Symptoms.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
