Somatoform disorder or Briquette’s set of symptoms is a set of mental disorders where the mental disorder is identified by symptoms of physical nature that imitate bodily disease or wound and for these there exists no particular physical reason. The symptoms observed in the patient are not fully a disorder of medical nature or any other mental problem. All the medical tests are either regular or do not explain the person’s symptoms. The patient undergoes many therapeutic evaluations and medical tests so that they are sure not to be having any sickness, which is connected to a bodily cause or essential wound. The patient is always worried about his health, as the doctors do not usually are able to locate the cause of their fitness troubles, which may be since last several years. Many a times, these symptoms have dramatic improvement with the triumphant treatment for the anxiety and mood disorders.
Diagnosis of somatoform means that the psychological factors are the large contributors to the symptom’s onset and duration. Please remember that somatoform are the disorders which are not due to cognizant indolent or even factitious disorders.
The Statistical Manual regarding Disorders of the Psychiatric Association of America has recognized the following specific disorders. They are somatization disorder, conversion disorder, hypochondriasis, dimorphic disorder, disorder related to pain and one unidentical somatoform where there is only 1 unexplained symptom for at the most six months.
Some of the somatoform conditions, which are common, can not reach the threshold for the somatization type of disorder. However, they are clinically very significant.
After depression and anxiety disorders, somatoform disorder is the 3rd largest psychiatric disorder in the world.
Independently, somatoform type of disorders does not increase the mortality risks, but there are evidences to suggest that, the somatoform is mainly associated with higher suicide attempts. Many a times, somatoform disorder patients are misdiagnosed and hence undergo persistent diagnostic procedures and even sometimes operations.
Somatoform disorders are more common among the females as compared to men. It is more common in the childhood or even early adults.
Some of the particular identifiers of somatoform disorder include:-
Chronic, multiple complaints of mysterious bodily symptoms.
Numerous sting symptoms which involves multiple sites like back, neck, head, stomach and even limbs
At least two or even more mysterious gastro intestinal symptoms like queasiness and indigestion
At least one pseudo-neurological symptom like blindness and incapability to stroll, talk or move.
The treatment of somatoform disorder is difficult as it requires multi-pronged approach as the patient will resist any direct interpretation of the conditions being somatic in nature and that the symptoms do not require any active invasive intervention. The patient has to be given anti-depressants, psychological treatment and therapy, medication to abate his acute conditions.
