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Related Concept Videos

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)01:27

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary classification system for mental health disorders, providing standardized diagnostic criteria for clinicians and researchers. First published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1952, the DSM has undergone several revisions to reflect evolving psychiatric understanding. The fifth edition, DSM-5, released in 2013, introduced key updates that expanded diagnostic categories and modified diagnostic...
Classification of Illness01:17

Classification of Illness

The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation01:30

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
Dissociative Identity Disorder01:30

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia01:27

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia

Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome01:23

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

DefinitionIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent combinations of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.Pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndromeIts pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving disturbances in motility, sensory processing, microbial balance, barrier integrity, and gut–brain communication. These mechanisms interact to produce symptoms that vary across IBS subtypes.Altered Motility PatternsDisordered...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
09:55

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Stability of somatoform symptoms--implications for classification.

Winfried Rief1, Graciela Rojas

  • 1Department of Clinical Psychology und Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Gutenbergstrasse18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany. rief@staff.uni-marburg.de

Psychosomatic Medicine
|November 28, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Stability of somatoform disorders is improved by focusing on current symptoms and syndromes rather than lifetime diagnoses. Medically unexplained symptoms require careful classification for reliable diagnosis.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
09:55

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Somatoform symptoms and disorders are characterized by physical symptoms not fully explained by a general medical condition.
  • Assessing the stability of these diagnoses is crucial for understanding their long-term course and improving diagnostic criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diagnostic stability of somatoform symptoms and disorders.
  • To identify factors influencing the reliability and validity of somatoform disorder diagnoses.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies.
  • Selected studies reported data on the stability of medically unexplained physical symptoms.

Main Results:

  • While individual somatoform symptoms fluctuate, symptom clusters forming syndromes appear more stable over time.
  • Lifetime diagnostic approaches present significant challenges; focusing on present state symptoms is more reliable.
  • Physician ratings of symptoms as 'medically unexplained' introduce subjectivity and reduce interrater reliability.
  • Diagnostic accuracy for somatoform disorders is comparable to other psychiatric and many organic conditions, not significantly impacting diagnostic stability.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest improvements for the classification of somatoform disorders.
  • Recommendations for new diagnostic criteria are proposed for consideration in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V) revision.