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 ...