Somatoform disorder in primary care: course and the need for cognitive-behavioral treatment

Medically unexplained physical symptoms are prevalent in primary care. Of all patients attending the family physician, 16% have a somatoform disorder as described by DSM-IV. Cognitive-behavioral treatment has been demonstrated to be effective in secondary care. However, the course of somatoform disorders and their need for treatment have not yet been established in primary care. In this study, data from 1,046 attendees in family practice were analyzed for prevalence, course, and eligibility for treatment. Over a 6-month follow-up, the prevalence of somatoform disorder decreased from 16.1% to 12.3%. After assessment of eligibility, about 5% of patients demonstrated a need for treatment.