Somatoform Disorders symptoms can include body pain and discomfort, thoughts or feelings about health problems, and excessive worries about these conditions. These symptoms can be caused by medical issues, substance abuse or mental disorders. They are usually intense and persistent, and they can cause a lot of distress in people.
Symptoms are difficult to understand and explain, which can make it hard for doctors to treat them properly. They can also interfere with daily life and make it difficult to work or go to school.
Kids with somatoform symptom disorder are very worried about their physical feelings, and they may think that their bodily sensations mean they have an illness. This kind of thinking can be very upsetting and can affect their relationships with their parents and other kids at home or in school.
These children often go to the doctor or nurse’s office a lot and ask for the same tests over and over again, even when their symptoms have changed a little bit. They might be afraid that they are going to get sick if they are not treated right away.
In fact, these children aren’t faking their fears. They have so much anxiety that they are unable to focus on other things or even do their normal schoolwork.
A child with somatic symptom disorder usually gets treatment from their parents or a therapist, which can help them learn how to handle their physical feelings more calmly. This can be done through counseling or sometimes with medication.
This type of condition has a genetic component and is more common in women than men. It can also be associated with a history of depression, antisocial personality disorders, and alcohol abuse.
The physical symptoms in somatoform disorder are thought to be produced by a conflict between an unconscious wish and a superego inhibition of the wish, especially if it is associated with strong aggressive or sexual impulses. This is called an “intrapsychic” conflict.
Symptoms usually begin before the age of 30 and may persist for six months or longer, although some patients have symptoms that don’t remit for a long time. The condition is more common in women than in men, and it runs in families.
Somatoform disorder is considered a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment. It is not an anxiety or depressive disorder, and it does not cause a physical disease.
Somatic symptom disorder is not to be confused with a factitious disorder or malingering, which are different from this condition. These conditions are characterized by persistent and deceptive behavior that is not well understood and is not under conscious control.
There are several types of somatoform disorders, but the most common is called hypochondriasis and is usually diagnosed when the person believes they have a health problem and spends a lot of time worrying about it.
Other somatoform disorders are called somatization disorder, and they involve a belief that one’s symptoms are caused by a physical disease or injury. They can be a serious, chronic illness, but they aren’t necessarily real. Somatization disorder can be very painful and can make it hard for someone to get the medical care they need.
