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Somatoform Disorder

Criteria

(ICD-10)

• 2 year history of multiple physical complaints for which no physical cause can be found
• symptoms cause distress and patients seeks multiple investigations
• persistent refusal to accept medical reassurance
• (Research criteria specify 6 symptoms from list of 14)

(Briquet's syndrome - multiple physical symptoms appearing before age 30 without physical cause)

Epidemiology

• Prevalence 2-4%

Treatment

• reassure no physical cause
• explain probably psychogenic
• help with underlying stresses, problems
• may respond to cognitive behavioural therapy