[Effect of shift work on somatoform disorders]

An overview of the literature shows that shift work is linked with an enhanced risk of psychiatric disorders. A number of authors have reported anxious and depressive symptomatology in shift workers, but there are no data about the frequency of somatoform disorders associated with this type of work. Psychosocial stress and low socio-economic status, both often found among shift workers, are regarded as risk factors for somatoform disorders. The connection of shift work and somatoform disorders is discussed with examples of four case reports. It is suggested that shift work, which is known to be associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, may promote the occurrence of vegetative symptoms, such as feelings of weakness and dizziness, and eventually leads to intensified self-observation, anxiousness and hypochondriasis with predominantly somatic symptoms.