Description

Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by an extreme focus on physical symptoms — such as pain or fatigue that causes major emotional distress and problems functioning. You may or may not have another diagnosed medical condition associated with these symptoms, but your reaction to the symptoms is not normal.

You often think the worst about their symptoms and often seek medical care, continuing in the search for an explanation, even as other serious conditions have been excluded. Health concerns can become a central focus of your life that it is difficult to function, sometimes leading to disability.

If you have somatic symptom disorder, you may experience emotional and physical changes of the distress. The treatment can help relieve symptoms, help to cope with the situation and improve their quality of life.

Symptoms

Somatic symptoms of symptoms of the disorder may be:

  • Specific sensations, such as pain or shortness of breath, or more general symptoms, such as fatigue or weakness
  • Unrelated to any medical cause that can be identified or associated with a disease such as cancer or heart disease, but more important than what is usually expected
  • A single symptom, symptoms multiple or different symptoms
  • Mild, moderate, or severe

Pain is the most common symptom, but regardless of your symptoms, you have excessive thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to the symptoms, which are the cause of major problems, make it difficult to function, and, at times, can be disabling.

These thoughts, feelings, and behaviors may include:

  • The constant concern about possible diseases
  • The normal display of bodily sensations as a sign of serious physical illness
  • For fear that the symptoms are severe, even when there is no evidence of
  • To think that the physical sensations are threatening or harmful
  • Feeling that the medical evaluation and treatment have not been sufficient
  • Fearing that physical activity can cause damage to your body
  • Repeatedly check their body to detect anomalies
  • The frequent visits of health care that does not alleviate their concerns, or that is worse
  • Being that does not respond to medical treatment or unusually sensitive to the side effects of the medication
  • To have a more severe impairment than what is normally expected of a medical condition

For somatic symptom disorder, more important than the specific physical symptoms that you experience is the way you interpret and react to the symptoms and how they impact your daily life.

When to see a doctor

Due to the physical symptoms may be related to medical problems, it is important to be evaluated by your primary care physician if you are not sure what is the cause of your symptoms. If your primary care provider believes you may have somatic symptom disorder, he or she may refer you to a mental health professional.

Caring for a loved one

When the physical symptoms are considered somatic symptom disorder occur, it may be difficult to accept that a life-threatening illness has eliminated the cause. The symptoms cause real difficulties for the person and the peace of mind, is not always helpful. Encourage your loved one to consider the possibility of a mental health reference for learning different ways of dealing with the reaction of the symptoms and the disability it causes.

Physical disability can cause a person to become dependent and need more physical care and emotional support that can deplete the caregivers and cause stress on families and relationships. If you feel overwhelmed by your role as a caregiver, you may want to talk with a mental health professional to meet their own needs.

Causes

The exact cause of somatic symptom disorder is not clear, but in any of these factors may play a role:

  • The genetic and biological factors, such as an increased sensitivity to pain
  • The influence of the family, which may be genetic or environmental, or both
  • Personality trait of negativity, which can influence how to identify and perceive the illness and the bodily symptoms
  • Decreased consciousness or problems in the processing of emotions, causing physical symptoms to become the focus, instead of with emotional problems
  • Learned behavior — for example, the care or other benefits of having a disease; or "pain behaviors" in response to the symptoms, such as the excess of the avoidance of the activity, which may increase their level of disability

Risk factors

Risk factors for somatic symptoms of the disease include:

  • Have anxiety or depression
  • Have a medical condition, or the recovery of a
  • Be at risk of developing a medical condition, such as having a strong family history of the disease
  • Experiencing stressful life events, trauma, or violence
  • After having experienced a past trauma, such as sexual abuse in childhood
  • To have a lower educational level and socio-economic status

Complications

Somatic symptom disorder may be associated with:

  • Poor health
  • Problems functioning in daily life, including physical disability
  • Problems with relationships
  • Problems at work or unemployment
  • Other mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and personality disorders
  • Increased risk of suicide related to depression
  • Financial problems due to excess health care visits

Prevention

Little is known about how to prevent somatic symptom disorder. However, these recommendations can help.

  • If you have problems with anxiety or depression, seek professional help as soon as possible.
  • Learn to recognize when you are stressed, and how this affects your body and regulate the practice of stress management and relaxation techniques.
  • If you think you have somatic symptom disorder, get treatment early to help stop the worsening of the symptoms and the deterioration of their quality of life.
  • Stick to your plan of treatment to help prevent relapse or worsening of symptoms.

Diagnosis

To determine a diagnosis, it is likely that you will have a physical exam and tests that your doctor recommends. Your doctor or other health care provider can help determine if you have any health conditions that need treatment.

Your health care provider may also refer you to a mental health professional, you can:

  • To conduct a psychological evaluation to talk about your symptoms, fears, or worries, stress, relationship problems, situations that can be avoided, and the history of the family
  • Fill out a psychological self-assessment or questionnaire
  • Ask about the consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other substances

Criteria for the diagnosis

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, emphasizes these points in the diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder:

  • You have one or more somatic symptoms — for example, pain or fatigue — that are distressing or cause problems in your daily life
  • Have excessive and persistent thoughts about the seriousness of your symptoms, you have the persistence of a high level of anxiety about health or symptoms, or spend a lot of time and energy to your symptoms or health concerns
  • You continue to have symptoms that concern you, normally for more than six months, although symptoms may vary

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to improve symptoms and your ability to function in daily life. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can be useful for somatic symptom disorder. Sometimes, medications can be added, especially if you are struggling with feelings of depression.

Psychotherapy

Due to the physical symptoms may be related to psychological stress and a high level of health anxiety, psychotherapy — specifically, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) — can help to improve physical symptoms.

CBT can help you to:

  • To examine and adapt their beliefs and expectations about health and physical symptoms
  • Learn how to reduce stress
  • Learn how to deal with the physical symptoms
  • Reduce the concern of the symptoms
  • Reduce avoidance of situations and activities because of the uncomfortable physical sensation
  • Improve daily functioning in the home, at work, in relationships and social situations
  • Address depression and other mental health disorders

Family therapy can also be useful, by the consideration of family relations and the improvement of family support and functioning.

Drugs

Antidepressant medications can help reduce symptoms associated with depression and the pain that often occur with somatic symptom disorder.

If one medication does not work well for you, your doctor may recommend switching to the other or the combination of certain drugs to increase the efficacy. Please note that it may take several weeks after you start it for the first time a medication to notice an improvement in symptoms.

Talk with your doctor about medication options and the possible side effects and risks.

Lifestyle and home remedies

While somatic symptom disorder of the benefits of a professional treatment, you can take a little bit of lifestyle and self-care measures, including these:

  • Work with your care providers. Work with your health care provider and mental health professionals to determine a regular schedule of visits to discuss your concerns and to build a relationship of trust. Also discuss the creation of reasonable limits on the tests, assessments, and referrals to specialists. Avoid seeking advice from several doctors or emergency room visits that can make your attention more difficult to coordinate, and can be subject to duplicate the tests.
  • Practice stress management and relaxation techniques. Learn stress management and relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation, may help to improve symptoms.
  • Be physically active. A graduate of this programme of activity can have a calming effect on your mood, improve your physical symptoms and help to improve their physical function.
  • Participate in the activities. Stay involved in your work and in social and family activities. Don't wait until your symptoms are resolved to participate.
  • Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. The use of substances can make your attention more difficult. Talk with your health care provider if you need help to stop smoking.

Preparing for your appointment

In addition to the medical evaluation, your primary care physician may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for evaluation and treatment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Its symptoms, including the first time it happened, and how they influence your daily life
  • Key personal information, including the traumatic events of his past, and any stressful, large events
  • Medical information, including the physical or mental health that you have
  • The drugs, vitamins, herbs and other supplements, and dosage
  • Questions to ask your health care provider or mental health professional

Ask a trusted family member or friend to go with you to your appointment, if possible, to give support and help to remember the information.

Questions may include:

  • I have somatic symptom disorder?
  • What treatment approach do you recommend?
  • It would be the therapy will be useful in my case?
  • If you're going to recommend the therapy, how frequently do I need and for how long?
  • If you are recommending medications, there are possible side effects?
  • How long should I take the medicine?
  • How will you control if the treatment is working?
  • There are self-care steps you can take to help manage my condition?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have?
  • What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider or mental health professional may ask questions such as:

  • What are your symptoms, and when it happens for the first time?
  • How do your symptoms affect your life, as in school, at work and in personal relationships?
  • Do you or any of your close relatives has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder?
  • Have you been diagnosed with any medical condition?
  • Make use of alcohol or recreational drugs? What's the frequency?
  • Do you get regular physical activity?

Your health care provider or mental health professional will ask more questions based on your responses, symptoms, and needs. Prepare and anticipate the questions will help you make the most of your appointment time.

The symptoms and treatment of Somatic symptom disorder