[Somatoform disorders: discussion on conceptual and diagnostic issues]

In view of the forthcoming revisions of DSM-5 and ICD-11, conceptual and diagnostic issues of somatoform disorders are being discussed. Current diagnostic categories as well as criteria have been shown to have limited validity and practicability. In particular, the requirement for a lacking somatic explanation of symptoms poses several methodological and practical problems. A confusing terminology including the parallel classification of functional and somatoform disorders constitutes additional barriers to improving treatment.New classificatory approaches will probably drop the demand for the complaints to be insufficiently explained by somatic disease and thus emphasize the similarities of somatoform and somatopsychic disorders. For DSM-5, the implementation of psychobehavioral positive criteria has been suggested as contributing to both illness severity and clinical need for action.