The somatizing patient
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
D Servan-Schreiber1, R Kolb, G Tabas
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; The Family Medicine and Internal Medicine Residency Programs, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Abstract:
Somatization is the experience of physical symptoms in response to emotional distress. It is common, costly, and frustrating to both the patient and physician. Successful treatment of somatization requires the physician to pursue a positive diagnosis rather than rely on a diagnosis of exclusion. Treatment consists of giving an acceptable explanation of the symptoms to the patient, avoiding unwarranted interventions, and arranging brief but regular office visits for which the patient does not need to develop a new symptom to receive medical attention.
Related Concept Videos
Somatosensation
Classification of Illness
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
Patient-centered Care
Methods of Documentation II: POMR
Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...

