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Somatoform Disorders
Soma and somato are both Greek words that mean body. Disorder means an ailment in the body. Thus, a somatoform disorder is a physical illness or illness in the body. Somatoform disorders vary by type and frequency of occurrence among school-age children. Depending on the type of disorder and age and gender of the person, prevalence rates range from less than 1% to 15%. Somatoform disorders rarely begin before age six years, and usually begin in late childhood and early adolescence.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSMIV), somatoform disorders include (American Psychiatric Association, 1994):
- Somatization disorder
- Undifferentiated somatoform disorder
- Conversion disorder
- Pain disorder
- Hypochondriasis
- Body dysmorphic disorder
All the somatoform disorders result in significant problems at school, home, or in other social situations.
In somatization disorder, pain or ...
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