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Why do doctors dislike treating people with somatoform disorder?
Saxby Pridmore1, Paul Skerritt, Jamshid Ahmadi
1University of Tasmania, 67 Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia. spridmore@primus.com.au
Summary
Doctors often dislike treating somatoform disorders due to patient and physician beliefs about symptom control. Educational interventions are needed to improve understanding and patient care for these complex conditions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Psychology
- Sociology
- Evolutionary Medicine
Background:
- Somatoform disorders present unique challenges in clinical practice.
- Physician attitudes can impact the quality of care for patients with these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the reasons behind physician reluctance in treating somatoform disorders.
- To inform strategies for enhancing patient services and clinical support.
Main Methods:
- A review of existing literature.
- Comparison with practical clinical experiences.
Main Results:
- Theoretical frameworks from psychology, sociology, and evolutionary medicine offer insights.
- Difficulties arise from the nature of the conditions and limitations in current medical knowledge and skills.
- Patient and physician acceptance of somatoform disorders as beyond voluntary control is a critical factor, often leading to friction.
Conclusions:
- Multiple factors contribute to physician aversion towards treating somatoform disorders.
- There is a significant need for educational initiatives to foster acceptance among healthcare professionals that somatoform symptoms are not consciously controlled.