What is Somatization Disorder? 

  • Somatization disorder symptoms include a history of many physical complaints beginning before age 30 years that occur over a period of several years.
  • The symptoms tend to result in a person seeking out treatment for them through multiple healthcare providers.
  • The disorder also typically results in significant impairment in social,occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

How can one know if its somatization disorder?

Each of the following criteria must have been met, with individual symptoms occurring at any time during the course of the disturbance:

  • Four pain symptoms: a history of pain related to at least four different sites or functions (e.g., head, abdomen, back, joints, extremities, chest,rectum, during menstruation, during sexual intercourse, or during     urination)
  • Two gastrointestinal symptoms: a history of at least two gastrointestinal symptoms other than pain (e.g., nausea, bloating, vomiting other than during pregnancy, diarrhea, or intolerance of several     different foods) 
  • One sexual symptom: a history of at least one sexual or reproductive symptom other than pain (e.g., sexual indifference, erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction, irregular menses, excessive menstrual bleeding, vomiting throughout pregnancy) 
  • One pseudo neurological symptom: a history of at least one symptom or deficit suggesting a neurological condition not limited to pain(conversion symptoms such as impaired coordination or balance, paralysis or localized weakness, difficulty swallowing or lump in throat, aphonia,urinary retention, hallucinations, loss of touch or pain sensation, double vision, blindness, deafness, seizures; dissociative symptoms such as amnesia; or loss of consciousness other than fainting)

Treatments

Cognitive behavior therapy 

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for somatization disorder focuses on changing negative patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that contribute to somatic symptoms.
  • The cognitive component of the treatment focuses on helping patients identify dysfunctional thinking about physical sensations. With practice, patients learn to recognize catastrophic thinking and develop more rational explanations for their feelings. 
  • The behavioral component aims to increase activity. Patients with somatization disorder have usually reduced their activity levels as a result of discomfort or out of fear that activity will worsen symptoms. 
  • CBT patients are instructed to increase activity gradually while avoiding overexertion that could reinforce fears. Other important types of treatment include relaxation training, sleep hygiene, and communication skills training. 

Medications

Antidepressant medications may help to alleviate symptoms of somatization disorder. Antidepressant medicines help in reduction of physical symptoms, increased activity levels, and lower levels of anxiety and depression at the end of treatment.