What Characteristics Do People With Somatization Disorder Have?

Donnie henderson

The traits that characterize people with somatization disorder are the following:

Cognitive or thinking characteristics

Cognitive characteristics include attention focused on somatic symptoms and the attribution of normal bodily sensations to physical illness (possibly with catastrophic interpretations).

Also, they also include concerns about the disease and the fear that any physical activity could harm the body.

Characteristics of behavior

The relevant behavioral characteristics associated may be the repeated physical verification of abnormalities, the constant search for medical attention and safety, and the avoidance of physical activity. These behavioral characteristics are more pronounced in severe and persistent somatization disorders, as is to be expected.

These characteristics are usually associated with frequent consultations of medical advice for different somatic or bodily symptoms. This can lead to medical meetings in which individuals are so focused on their concerns about somatic symptoms that the conversation cannot be redirected to other issues.

There is often a high degree of utilization of medical care. However, this rarely relieves the individual of their concerns. As a result, the person can receive medical attention from several doctors for the same symptoms.

Frequent visits to the doctor

Any attempt to reassure the doctor and explain that the symptoms are not indicative of a severe physical illness is usually ephemeral. Individuals experience it as if the doctor did not take his signs with due seriousness.

Since focusing on bodily symptoms is a significant feature of the disease, people with somatization disorder often go to general medical health services instead of mental health services.

The suggestion of a referral to a mental health specialist to individuals with a somatization disorder can be experienced with surprise or even with outright rejection.

What is the prevalence of somatization disorder?

The prevalence of somatization disorder is unknown although it is estimated that in the general adult population it can be between 5 and 7%. On the other hand, it is believed to be less than that of the undifferentiated somatoform disorder. Also, women tend to report more somatic symptoms than men, and the prevalence of somatization disorder is probably, as a consequence, higher in women than in men.

…
Read More

Criteria That Must Be Present To Make The Diagnosis Of Somatization Disorder

Donnie henderson

The requirements that mental health specialists must take into account in making the diagnosis of somatization disorder are the following:

  1. Item or and physical traits that make the pain or will grow to essential difficulties in everyday life.
  2. Extreme ideas, beliefs or practices compared to physical signs or blended with care for form, as evidenced by one or more of the following characteristics:
  • Disproportionate and persistent thoughts about the severity of the symptoms themselves.
  • Persistently elevated the degree of anxiety about health or symptoms.
  • Excessive time and energy devoted to these symptoms or concern for health.
  1. Although some somatic symptom may not be continuously present, the symptomatic state is persistent (usually more than six months).

How does somatization disorder develop and what is its course?

In older people, somatic symptoms and concurrent medical conditions are common, so it is crucial to make the diagnosis an approach in criterion B.

Somatization disorder may be underdiagnosed in older adults, either because specific somatic symptoms (e.g., pain, fatigue) are considered part of healthy aging or because concern for the disease is considered "understandable" in the elderly. Older people, who generally have more medical illnesses and need more medication than younger people. Depression is also common in older people who have numerous somatic symptoms.

Somatization disorder in children

In children, the most common symptoms are the recurrent abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, and nausea. It is more frequent than a single sign predominates in children than in adults. Although young children may have somatic complaints, it is rare for them to worry about the "disease" per se before adolescence.

The response of parents to the symptoms is essential, as this can determine the level of distress associated. Parents can be decisive in the interpretation of signs, in the time they miss school and in seeking medical help.

As we have seen, somatization disorder is associated with a significant deterioration in health status and with other diseases such as depression or anxiety. In this sense, seeking psychological help is essential to improve the quality of life of these patients.

…
Read More

Somatization Disorder: When The Body Speaks

Donnie henderson

People suffering from a somatization disorder often have multiple somatic symptoms (fullness) that cause discomfort or can cause significant problems in daily life. However, sometimes they may present only one severe sign and not several of them. In these cases, the most characteristic symptom is a pain.

Symptoms may be specific (e.g., localized pain) or relatively nonspecific (e.g., fatigue). Signs sometimes denote normal bodily sensations or discomfort that usually does not mean a serious illness.

The suffering of the person with somatization disorder is real

Person Suffering

The person suffering from a somatization disorder your discomfort is authentic, whether or not it is explained medically. Thus, the symptoms may or may not be associated with another medical condition. In fact, often, these people have medical conditions along with the somatization disorder.

The Symptoms

For example, a person could be severely disabled by the symptoms of a somatization disorder after uncomplicated myocardial infarction. This is true even if the myocardial infarction itself has not produced any disability. If there is another medical illness or a high risk of suffering from it, with this disease would be excessive in these people.

Somatization

On the other hand, people with somatization disorder tend to have very high levels of concern for the condition. In this way, they unduly evaluate their bodily symptoms and consider them threatening, harmful or annoying. They often think the worst about their health.

The quality of life is reduced in these people

Health-related quality of life is often affected by both the physical and the mental levels.

In somatization disorder, deterioration is characteristic and, when it is persistent,  disability can result. In these cases, the patient often goes to consultation and even consult different specialists. However, this rarely alleviates their concerns.

These people often seem not to respond to medical interventions, and new interventions can aggravate the presentation of symptoms, entering a vicious circle. Some of these individuals seem unusually sensitive to the side effects of medications. Also, some feel that their medical evaluation and treatment have not been sufficient.

…
Read More