Somatoform disorders: types, causes, symptoms and treatment

Physical ailments are calls for attention that something has happened in our body. Physical pain is the response to a certain stimulus or condition that we may be suffering from.

But these ailments do not always imply a physical alteration with a clearly traceable origin.

In this article we will review what somatoform disorders are., how these types of disorders happen, what are their most common types and we will talk about the treatments and therapies used in these cases.

• Related article: "The 16 most common mental disorders"

What are somatoform disorders?

Somatoform disorders are those in which an excessive level of anxiety and worry about potential or developing physical symptoms makes these intensify or enhance the appearance of others.

It is considered normal that at some point in our lives we have all experienced somatoform symptoms without these progressing to become a significant problem.

Causes

Somatoform disorders are often linked to some type of physical condition, at least during the initial stages.

Then it is common for them to dissociate themselves from it and for psychological discomfort to predominate above the physical ailment

A good example is muscle aches. When the subject begins to present a feeling of discomfort in a muscular region, and this persists for several days, the person associates this discomfort with a disease of considerable severity, although what may actually be causing that are high levels of stress, or the fact that you have been held in the wrong positions for too long weather.

In less intense cases, the subject is able to realize in time that he is reacting disproportionately faced with the situation and manages to remain calm. When the intensity is greater, the individual can become so obsessed with the idea that they present a severe pathology that they can go to the consultation of various specialists with the firm conviction that they will diagnose the disease that he himself has fed without pretend it.

When the specialist makes the corresponding evaluation and does not detect any pathology, the subject is not able to accept this diagnosis as true, and continues to seek new opinions.

It is an irrational belief, which in some cases can cause the subject to actually feel the physical discomfort of the disease that he claims to have, entering a state of hypochondria.

• You may be interested: "Hypochondria: causes, symptoms and possible treatments"

Types of somatoform disorders

Here you will find short descriptions about the types of somatoform disorders.

1. Body dysmorphic disorder

This consists of an exaggerated rejection by the subject towards their body, or to some specific part of it. In case the person presents some real physical defect, this is perceived by the subject in such a despicable way that he might even want to get rid of that part of his body.

When there is no obvious malformation, the individual with body dysmorphic disorder can create it. For example, if he does not like the shape of his ears or nose, that situation would be the trigger for the disorder.

2. Somatization disorder

These generally occur before the age of 30, and are physical symptoms perceived by the subject, for who have sought medical help, but at the time of evaluation do not reveal signs of any disease.

This disorder generates a high level of anxiety in people who suffer from them, and are usually caused by stressors in the daily life of these subjects.

3. Hypochondriac disorder

It's about the perception of the specific symptoms of a disease that responds only to the subjectivity of the subject. The person does not really have any real disease, but even so, he seeks to be evaluated having the firm conviction that he suffers from said disease.

It is not considered as a psychotic disorder, taking into account that the person is aware that he may be acting disproportionately, but still does so.

4. Conversion disorder

In this case there are physical symptoms and signs, such as continuous muscular ailments or problems in the perception of any of the senses. This situation leads to the idea that there is a severe pathology that is causing said symptoms, but in reality the origin of these conditions is purely psychological, unlike other somatoform disorders the symptoms of this are not produced in a premeditated way by the subject.

Some examples of symptoms that can appear through this somatoform disorder can be tension headaches, paratonia, sexual dysfunctions, intolerance to some foods, etc ...

5. Pain disorder

In this case there is physical pain in one or more parts of the subject's body, and it usually occurs after that an accident, illness, or simply a requirement in some region of the body has been suffered. At first the pain is justified, but then it persists even though the affected area has completely healed.

Treatment

In these cases a multidisciplinary team should be used to stabilize patients physically and mentally; it is generally made up of doctors specializing in different areas, including a psychiatrist.

In some cases, medication may be necessary, when strong states of anxiety are present. However, it will always be necessary for the subject to attend psychotherapy.

The treatment that leaves the best results is the one based on cognitive-behavioral techniques, which seek to identify and change the maladaptive thoughts of the subject for more rational ones, which will allow him to better evaluate her real situation.

Bibliographic references:

• Cervilla Ballesteros, J. (2006). Geriatric Psychiatry (2nd edition). Elsevier.
• Oyama O., Paltoo C., Greengold J. (2007). Somatoform disorders. American Family Physician. 76 (9): 1333 - 1338.