Somatic Symptom Disorder
Article Sections
Introduction
Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by distressing physical symptoms that result in excessive health-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Symptoms (eg, pain, fatigue, weakness) are interpreted as serious and possibly having catastrophic health consequences, causing high health care utilization. Somatic symptoms are authentic and cause emotional and physical suffering, though they may not be explained by a recognized medical condition.
Epidemiology and risk factors
The estimated prevalence of somatic symptom disorder is 5%-9% in the general population and 15% among primary care patients. Prevalence rates are higher in females (10:1 ratio).
Factors that may contribute to the risk of developing somatic symptom disorder can be psychologic (eg, concurrent anxiety or depressive disorder, first-degree relative with chronic illness) environmental (eg, recent stressful or health-related life event), and genetic.
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