Assignment
Submitted By
Sidra Tul Muntaha
Submitted To
Psychologist Latif Rehmani
Abnormal and Clinical Psychology
Date : 15-5-2025
Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders
In the DSM-5, Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders are a category of mental disorders
characterized by significant distress and impairment in daily life due to physical symptoms,
excessive thoughts, and behaviors related to those symptoms. These disorders include Somatic
Symptom Disorder, Illness Anxiety Disorder, Conversion Disorder, and Factitious Disorder. The
term ‘Hypochondriasis’ is no longer included.
Somatic Symptom Disorder
The diagnostic criteria for Somatic Symptom Disorder noted in DSM 5 are:
A. One or more somatic symptoms that are distressing or result in significant disruption of
daily life.
B. Excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviours related to the somatic symptoms or associated
health concerns as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. Disproportionate and persistent thoughts about the seriousness of one’s
symptoms.
2. Persistently high level of anxiety about health or symptoms.
3. Excessive time and energy devoted to these symptoms or health concerns.
C. Although any one somatic symptom may not be continuously present, the state of being
symptomatic is persistent (typically more than 6 months).
Specify if:
With predominant pain (previously pain disorder): This specifier is for individuals
whose somatic symptoms predominantly involve pain.
Specify if:
Persistent: a persistent course is characterized by severe symptoms, marked impairment, and
long duration (more than 6 months).
Specify if:
Mild: Only one of the symptoms specified in Criterion B is fulfilled.
Moderate: Two or more of the symptoms specified in Criterion B are fulfilled.
Severe: Two or more of the symptoms specified in Criterion B are fulfilled, plus there are
multiple somatic complaints (or one very severe somatic symptom).
Illness Anxiety Disorder
The diagnostic criteria for Illness Anxiety Disorder noted in DSM 5 are:
A. Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness.
B. Somatic symptoms are not present or if present, are only mild in intensity. If another
medical condition is present or there is a high risk for developing a medical condition
(e.g., strong family history is present), the preoccupation is clearly excessive or
disproportionate.
C. There is a high level of anxiety about health, and the individual is easily alarmed about
personal health status.
D. The individual performs excessive health-related behaviours (e.g., repeatedly checks his
or her body for signs of illness) or exhibits maladaptive avoidance (e.g, avoids doctor
appointments and hospitals).
E. Illness preoccupation has been present for at least 6 months, but the specific illness that is
feared may change over that period of time.
F. The illness-related preoccupation is not better explained by another mental disorder, such
as somatic symptom disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, body
dysmorphic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or delusional disorder, somatic type.
Specify whether: Care-seeking type: Medical care, including physician visits or undergoing
tests and procedures, is frequently used.
Care-avoidant type: Medical care is rarely used
Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)
The diagnostic criteria for Conversion Disorder noted in DSM 5 are:
A. One or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function.
B. Clinical findings provide evidence of incompatibility between the symptom and
recognized neurological or medical conditions.
C. The symptom or deficit is not better explained by another medical or mental disorder.
D. The symptom or deficit causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning or warrants medical evaluation.
Specify symptom type:
With weakness or paralysis
With abnormal movement
With swallowing symptoms
With speech symptom
With attacks or seizures
With anesthesia or sensory loss
With special sensory symptom
With mixed symptoms
Specify if:
Acute episode: Symptoms present for less than 6 months.
■ : Symptoms occurring for 6 months or more.
Specify if:
With psychological stressor: (specify stressor).
Without psychological stressor.
Etiology
Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) arises from a heightened awareness of various bodily
sensations, which are combined with an inclination to interpret these sensations as indicative of
medical illness. While the etiology of SSD is unclear, studies have investigated risk factors
including childhood neglect, sexual abuse, chaotic lifestyle, and history of alcohol and substance
abuse.
Treatment / Management
The primary objective is to help the patient cope with physical symptoms, including health
anxiety and maladaptive behaviors, as opposed to eliminating the symptoms. Caution must be
exercised when conveying to patients that their physical symptoms are exacerbated by anxiety or
excessive emotional problems as patients may be resistant to this suggestion. The primary care
provider should schedule regular visits to reinforce that symptoms are not suggestive of a
life-threatening or disabling medical condition.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
D'Souza, R. S., & Hooten, W. M. (2023, March 13). Somatic Symptom Disorder. In
StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532253/
