Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Allen, L. A. Articles by Silver, R. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Allen, L. A. Articles by Silver, R. C. Somatoform Disorders

Somatization

A Debilitating Syndrome in Primary Care

Received March 21, 2000; revised June 30, 2000; accepted July 25, 2000. From Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey; Division of Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, California.. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Allen, Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

Somatization is a significant problem for clinical medicine. Unlike somatization disorder, which is relatively rare, abridged somatization, a less severe form of somatization, is prevalent in primary care clinics. The authors examined the clinical status and functioning of patients diagnosed with a depression or anxiety disorder comorbid with abridged somatization and compared them with patients diagnosed with a depression or anxiety disorder alone. The authors examined severity of physical functioning and psychopathology in relation to diagnostic status. Patients diagnosed with both abridged somatization and a depression or anxiety disorder were more physically impaired and more anxious than those diagnosed with a depression or anxiety disorder alone. The results suggest that abridged somatization frequently coexists with depression and anxiety and thus complicates the presentation of these disorders.

Key Words: Primary Care • Somatoform Disorders

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. E. Tietjen, J. L. Brandes, K. B. Digre, S. Baggaley, V. Martin, A. Recober, L. O. Geweke, F. Hafeez, S. K. Aurora, N. A. Herial, et al. High prevalence of somatic symptoms and depression in women with disabling chronic headache Neurology, January 9, 2007; 68(2): 134 - 140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Avila Somatization or psychosomatic symptoms? Psychosomatics, March 1, 2006; 47(2): 163 - 166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Muller, M. Mannel, H. Murck, and V. W. Rahlfs Treatment of Somatoform Disorders With St. John's Wort: A Randomized, Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Trial Psychosom Med, July 1, 2004; 66(4): 538 - 547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-H. Ladwig, B. Marten-Mittag, N. Erazo, and H. Gundel Identifying Somatization Disorder in a Population-Based Health Examination Survey: Psychosocial Burden and Gender Differences Psychosomatics, December 1, 2001; 42(6): 511 - 518. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2001 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us