Somatic Symptom Disorder (Part 1)

After discussing Dissociative Disorders, the diagnostic manual takes a new direction. It moves to a category of disorders known as somatic disorders.

The word "somatic" is related to the Greek word soma, which means "body." Somatic symptoms are physical symptoms. But why should clinical psychology be concerned with physical symptoms? Let me explain in my own words.

Somatic Symptom Disorders don't focus on the physical symptom itself (which is studied in clinical medicine) but on the psychological distress that accompanies these physical symptoms, such as persistent thoughts and abnormal behaviors. In some of these disorders, the physical symptoms aren’t even medically explainable.

Using the term hypochondria might make this easier to understand. Although this word is a bit complex, it's widely recognized and describes a situation of excessive worry (often unjustified) about physical symptoms.

The diagnostic manual (DSM-5) describes four types of Somatic Symptom Disorders:

• Somatic Symptom Disorder
• Illness Anxiety Disorder
• Conversion Disorder
• Factitious Disorder.

Sources:

• American Psychiatric Association (2013) - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
• Bernhill, J. W. (2014) - DSM-5 Clinical Cases.

If you'd like me to explain a psychology topic in my own words, feel free to leave a comment!