[Functional somatic syndromes in the treatment of allergic diseases and their related disorders]

Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are characterized by patterns of persistent bodily complaints for which adequate examination does not reveal sufficiently explanatory structural or other specified pathology. Here we reviewed the following diseases or pathologies: nervous cough, vocal cord dysfunction, multiple chemical sensitivity and sick building syndrome. All of these often accompany co-morbid psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorder and depression. Therefore, bio-psycho-social understanding and approach are required for diagnosis and treatment of patients with these diseases. Specific psychotherapy may be applicable when symptoms are aggravated by psychological factors.