Somatoform disorders: types, causes, symptoms and treatment.

An explanation about what they are and how these strange alterations with diffuse causes appear.

Physical ailments are a wake-up call 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 localized origin.

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

What are somatoform disorders?

The somatoform disorders are those in which an excessive level of anxiety and preoccupation with potential or developing physical symptoms. causes them to intensify or potentiate the appearance of others.

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

Causes

Somatoform disorders are usually linked to some kind of physical condition, at least during the initial stages. Afterwards, it is common for them to be dissociated from the physical condition and for psychological discomfort to predominate over the physical ailment. rather than the physical ailment

A good example is muscular pain. When the subject begins to present a sensation of discomfort in some muscular region, and this persists for several days, the person associates this discomfort with an illness of considerable seriousness, although what may really be causing this are high levels of stress, or the fact that he/she has been in incorrect positions for too long.

In less intense cases, the subject is able to realize in time that he/she is reacting disproportionately to the situation and manages to remain calm. the situation and manages to remain calm. When the intensity is greater, the individual can become so obsessed with the idea that he/she presents a severe pathology that he/she may go to the consultation of various specialists with the firm conviction that he/she will be diagnosed with the disease that he/she has fed without intending to do so.

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

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

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 on the part of the subject towards his/her bodyor towards 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/she may even wish to get rid of that part of his/her body.

When there is no obvious malformation, the subject with body dysmorphic disorder may even 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 usually occur before the age of 30 years, and are physical symptoms perceived by the subject, for which he/she has sought medical help, but which at the time of evaluation do not reveal signs of any disease.

This disorder generates a high level of anxiety in sufferers, and are usually caused by stressors in the daily life of these subjects.

3. Hypochondriac disorder

This is the perception of the specific symptoms of a disease that responds only to the subjectivity of the subject.. The person does not really present any real disease, but still seeks to be evaluated with the firm conviction that he/she suffers from this disease.

It is not considered as a psychotic disorder, considering that the person is aware that he/she may be acting disproportionately, but still continues to do so.

4. Conversion disorder

In this case there are physical signs and symptoms, such as continuous muscular pain or problems in the perception of some of the senses. This situation leads to the idea that there is a severe pathology that is causing such symptomatology, but in reality the origin of these conditions is purely psychological.However, in reality the origin of these affections is purely psychological, unlike other somatoform disorders, the symptoms of this one 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 body of the subject, and usually occurs after an accident, illness, or simply a requirement in some region of the body. At first the pain is justified, but then it persists even though the affected area has healed completely.

Treatment

In these cases a multidisciplinary team should be employed to stabilize patients physically and mentally.The team is usually made up of medical specialists in different areas, including a psychiatrist.

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

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

Bibliographical 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.