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Somatoform disorders.

W Curt LaFrance1

  • 1Division of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology, Brown Medical School/Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. William_LaFrance_Jr@brown.edu

Seminars in Neurology
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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Somatoform disorders are common but under-recognized conditions lacking effective treatments. This review covers diagnosis, treatment, and research advances in functional neuroimaging for these medically unexplained symptoms.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology and Psychiatry
  • Medical Psychology

Background:

  • Neurology and psychiatry were once unified, but patient categorization into "organic" and "functional" led to medically unexplained symptoms falling between specialties.
  • Somatoform disorders (SDs) are prevalent yet significantly under-recognized, with a lack of effective treatments contributing to patient distress and healthcare burdens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of somatoform disorders.
  • To discuss diagnostic criteria, differential diagnoses, examination findings, and current treatment options.
  • To summarize recent research advancements in functional neuroimaging and treatment trials for SDs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of diagnostic criteria for somatoform disorders.
  • Analysis of differential diagnoses and examination findings.
  • Synthesis of current treatment strategies and research in functional neuroimaging.

Main Results:

  • Somatoform disorders present diagnostic challenges due to their complex nature and overlap with other conditions.
  • Current treatments for SDs are varied, with ongoing research exploring novel therapeutic approaches.
  • Functional neuroimaging studies show promise in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of these disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Improved recognition and diagnostic approaches are crucial for managing somatoform disorders.
  • Further research, particularly in neuroimaging and treatment trials, is needed to develop more effective interventions.
  • A multidisciplinary approach integrating neurology, psychiatry, and psychological therapies may offer the best outcomes for patients with SDs.