Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: Biological Factors

Somatic symptom disorder and other disorders with prominent somatic manifestations constitute a new category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 categorization includes disorders linked to an excessive concern regarding physical illness, disorders associated with a secondary gain such as factitious disorders, conditions classically identified with somatization such as somatic symptom disorder, conversive symptoms (affecting movement or senses), and other unexplained physical manifestations. Although psychiatrists and psychologists tend to consider somatization to be the expression of psychological distress through the body, neurologists and general practitioners define it as the presence of somatic symptoms in the absence of any organic explanation. Moreover, the DSM-5 attempts to connect the psychological view with current medical knowledge on somatic symptoms and their ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles