What Is Somatization? – Forbes Health - Forbes
In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)—the diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals—the previous disorder class of "somatoform disorders" is now classified as "Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders." These include the following:
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is characterized by a significant focus on physical symptoms—that may or may not be related to a medical diagnosis—causing excessive worries about the symptoms and their potential consequences, create significant distress or lead to impairment in important areas of functioning, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA). This can lead to additional physical symptoms as well, explains Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D., a neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind based in New York City.
"For example, you may suffer from chest pain and therefore, harbor so much stress and anxiety over it that you then develop stomach pain as well," she says. "You will genuinely feel the pain, but not necessarily suffer from a medical condition, if one has not been diagnosed."
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Illness anxiety disorder involves a persistent and excessive fear of getting seriously sick, explains Dr. Hafeez, which can occur even if no physical symptoms are present. This is akin to what is commonly referred to as hypochondria. Experts note that illness anxiety disorder differs from SSD because the distress involved isn't caused by physical symptoms, but by anxiety about possible physical symptoms arising and going to the worst case scenarios about what these physical symptoms might signify.
Conversion Disorder
Also described in the DSM-5 as functional neurological symptom disorder, conversion disorder occurs when there is a single, unexplained symptom involving voluntary or sensory functioning (such as weakness or paralysis, abnormal movement or swallowing symptoms). The DSM-5 provides the example of someone trembling, with the person believing it's caused by a seizure disorder. But when the person is distracted, the trembling stops (which would not be the case for someone with a seizure disorder).
Experts note that the individual is not usually cognizant of how these symptoms present in odd ways that are not in line with known medical conditions.
Psychological Factors Affecting Other Medical Conditions
The DSM-5 notes this condition is more common than SSD, and defines it as distress over physical symptoms that have a confirmed or suspected diagnosis. This may actually cause harm to the patient, who may delay care or a diagnosis due to their increased anxiety about what the medical condition means for their life.
Factitious Disorder
The DSM-5 categorizes factitious disorder as a person who falsifies physical symptoms or a medical diagnosis, even in the absence of obvious, external rewards. There is an intent to deceive, as they will present to others as ill or injured. Oftentimes, they may be doing this for attention or to receive support from others, but there can be severe consequences as they may go as far as to induce pain or suffering to themselves in order to receive such attention and support.
Other Specified Somatic Symptom and Related Disorder
This category is used when a person does not meet the criteria in the DSM-5 for any of the above diagnoses. Additionally, it can also involve having the above symptoms for only a short period of time, such as having SSD for six months or less, with resolution thereafter.
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