P75

Synonym

somatization disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with and repeated presentations of physical symptoms and complaints together with persistent requests for medical investigations in spite of repeated negative findings and reassurances by doctors. For this diagnosis, the presentation of multiple, recurrent and frequently changing physical symptoms presented to the family physician over a period of at least one year is required. Hypochondriacal disorder requires a persistent preoccupation with either the physical appearance or with the possibility of having a serious disease, together with persistent somatic complaints over a period of at least one year, in spite of repeated negative findings and reassurances by doctors

Somatization is the repeated presentation of physical symptoms and complaints suggesting physical disorders for which no demonstrable organic findings or physiological mechanisms are responsible, and for which there is positive evidence that they are linked to psychological factors while the patient does not experience a sense of controlling the production of these symptoms in dealing with the psychological factors. Physical symptoms and complaints including pain which are presented as if they were due to a physical disorder of a system/organ under autonomic nervous control, or which consist of persistent, severe/distressing pain which cannot be explained by a physiological process/disorder, are coded with a symptom/complaint diagnosis representing the physical aspect, and - if possible - with a code representing the emotional or psychosocial problem with which it is associated. The definition of somatization disorder in ICD-10 (a minimum of 2 years) is too stringent for use in general pract.

F44.0; F44.1; F44.2; F44.3; F44.4; F44.5; F44.6; F44.7; F44.8; F44.9; F45.0; F45.1; F45.2; F45.3; F45.4; F45.9