[Effectiveness of group psychoanalytic therapy in somatizing patients]

Somatizers are a kind of patients very prevalent, expensive for the health system and difficult to treat. In recent years, several treatment approaches, such as cognitive, psychodynamic or educative therapy, have demonstrated effectiveness for the management of these patients. This paper aims to analyze the research studies on group psychotherapy for the treatment of somatizers. Most of these studies are not solid from a methodological point of view. Based on these data, the authors summarize the indications, methodology, limitations and effectiveness of group psychotherapy in the treatment of somatizing patients.