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Somatic Symptom Disorder and Health Anxiety: Assessment and Management
Karoline S Sauer1, Michael Witthöft1, Winfried Rief2
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Wallstraße 3, Mainz 55122, Germany.
Abstract:
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) and Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) replaced the diagnostic entities of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) somatoform disorders and hypochondriasis. SSD turns away from specifying the presence or absence of a medical condition for presented symptoms and instead focuses on excessive symptom-related affects, cognitions, and behaviors. People with pathological health anxiety can be diagnosed with SSD or IAD, depending on the intensity of accompanying somatic symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy shows the best empirical evidence for an effective treatment of SSD and IAD.
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