Selected aspects relative to somatoform disorders
Piegza, M.; Gorczyca, P.; Hese, R.T.
Wiadomosci Lekarskie 58(7-8): 442-446
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5147 PMID: 16425800 Document Number: 593499
This article addresses somatoform disorders, which remain a challenging problem in contemporary psychiatry. Inadequate responses to stressors play a significant role in their development. The term "somatoform disorders" refers to illnesses that were previously termed "psychosomatic". This article defines disorders according to the ICD-10 classification while highlighting important differences between this and the DSM-IV classification. The article reviews expert opinions concerning somatoform disorders, particularly in regard to somatization, hypochondriasis and autonomic dysfunction in these conditions. Attention is drawn to the relationship between somatoform disorders and other psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety disorders and personality disorders as well as to actual non-psychiatric illnesses. The influence of cultural background, sex and age is discussed. Difficult clinical conditions such as fibromyalgia and Münchhausen syndrome are also considered.