Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: Social Factors

Social and cultural factors play a large role in the development, form, and maintenance of somatic disorders. The tendency to somaticize leads to impairment across many areas, including in social occupational domains. The monetary cost can also be great, as patients with somatic disorders spend nine times more on health care than individuals without such a diagnosis. In addition, many research studies acknowledge that those with somatic symptoms frequently have an underlying comorbid mood diagnosis. The attitude of the particular culture or social structure toward depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns may consequently contribute to the expression of these mental health issues, resulting in changes in the quality and level of somatic impairment experienced.

Severe adverse experiences, such as trauma, are strongly related to the ...

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