Current debates over nosology of somatoform disorders

Somatoform disorders.

The somatoform disorders are a group of psychiatric disorders that cause unexplained physical symptoms. They include somatization disorder (involving multisystem physical symptoms), undifferentiated somatoform disorder (fewer symptoms than somatization disorder), conversion disorder (voluntary motor or sensory function symptoms), pain disorder (pain with strong psychological involvement), hypoc...

Somatoform Disorders

In addition to the Somatoform Disorders, as listed in DSM-IV, such as Somatization Disorder (SD), Conversion Disorder (CD), Hypochondriasis (HD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Pain Disorder, and Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder (USD), there are a group of disorders called “Functional Somatic Syndromes” (4), such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Fibromyalgia. Facti...

Pharmacotherapy of somatoform disorders.

OBJECTIVE This paper reviews the published literature on the pharmacologic management of somatoform disorders. METHODS Using Medline, the author identified all articles published between 1970 and 2003 on this topic, selecting the best-designed studies for inclusion. RESULTS The review reveals that patients with the obsessional cluster of somatoform disorders (hypochondriasis and body dysmor...

Dissociative and Somatoform Disorders

Current State of Psychiatric Nosology

Psychiatric classifi cations categorize how patients present to mental healthcare professionals and are necessarily utilitarian. From the clinician’s perspective, the most important goal of a psychiatric classifi cation is to assist them in managing their patients’ psychiatric conditions by facilitating the selection of effective interventions and predicting management needs and outcomes. Due t...