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Somatization Disorder Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

People with somatization disorder complain about many physical illnesses that involve many different parts of their body. A diagnosis of somatization disorder requires experiencing an assortment of symptoms (at least three) for a considerable amount of time (causing suffering for at least two years).

The symptoms include:

  • Pain symptoms—these include pain experienced in any part of the body including:
    • Headaches
    • Back pain
    • Joint pain
    • Chest pain
    • Irregular heartbeats
    • Pain in arms or legs
    • Pain in vagina or penis during sexual intercourse
    • Pain during urination
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms—these include any problem, other than pain, in the stomach or intestines, including:
    • Nausea
    • Bloating
    • Vomiting
    • Diarrhea
  • Sexual symptoms—these include any problem, other than pain, in the sexual or reproduction system, including:
    • Inability to sustain an erection (men)
    • Irregular periods (women)
    • Excessive menstrual bleeding (women)
  • Neurological symptoms—these include:
    • Being off-balance
    • Paralysis
    • Weakness
    • Trouble swallowing
    • Loss of voice
    • Inability to control the need to urinate
    • Delusions or hallucinations
    • Loss of touch
    • Unable to feel pain
    • Amnesia (loss of memory)
    • Temporary blindness
    • Temporary deafness
    • Seizures

    Nervous System

    Nervous system posterior 3D
    An emotional event may trigger physical symptoms, sometimes through peripheral nerves (yellow).
    © 2009 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc.

Individuals with somatization disorder may:

  • Complain about these symptoms in a very dramatic way, yet describe the symptoms in very vague or unclear terms
  • Visit more than one doctor for diagnosis and treatment for the same symptoms
  • Have test results that do not confirm any medical illness to explain their symptoms

It is important to understand that a person with somatization disorder is not intentionally producing or pretending to experience these physical complaints.

If you experience any of these symptoms do not assume it is due to somatization disorder. These symptoms may be caused by other health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.

Diagnosis

There are no specific tests to determine whether or not a person has somatization disorder.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and mental health history. Then your doctor will perform a physical exam. It is important for your doctor to rule out other diagnoses that are sometimes misdiagnosed as somatization disorder, including multiple sclerosis , lupus , and other endocrine (hormonal) conditions.

If your doctor does not find anything serious in these tests, your doctor may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

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