Somatoform disorders in the workplace in Japan

The literature related to somatoform disorders in the workplace is very limited, and these disorders need more attention from mental health professionals in the workplace as well as from employers. Over the last decade, major changes have taken place in the work environment in Japan. More stress and less support from supervisors or colleagues in the workplace have made employees stressed out. The number of employees with mental disorders, including somatoform disorders, taking sick leave has significantly increased. In our multi-centre collaborative study, somatoform disorders were the third most prevalent psychiatric disorder in employees, after mood and schizophrenic disorders. Employees with neurotic disorders manifested physical symptoms more frequently than those without. Young employees frequently reported somatic symptoms such as general malaise, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, stiff shoulder, and dizziness. A rational new approach is needed to tackle this important psychopathology increasingly seen among employees.