A clinical approach to the somatizing patient

Patients with chronic, unexplained physical complaints are evaluated diagnostically in two steps in primary care: (1) brief consideration of three specific, but rare, disorders (somatic delusion, conversion, and malingering); and (2) extensive consideration of the remaining three common but overlapping disorders (somatization disorder, hypochondriasis, and psychogenic pain). Because of frequent confusion in differentiating among the common somatizing disorders and because the treatment is similar for all, the family physician can be content with the general designation of "common somatization syndrome" when unable to distinguish among them. This diagnosis can be easily established by a good history and physical examination. Psychiatric referral is required for the rare somatizing disorders. The primary physician can manage the majority of the common somatizing patients by observing the following principles: develop a good physician-patient relationship, apply techniques of behavior modification, engage the patient at the somatic level but extend it to include associated life stresses, strategically use symptomatic measures, treat depression with full doses of antidepressants, and accept the importance of ongoing contact with the patient irrespective of symptoms. When these therapeutic principles are employed, decreased morbidity, medical utilization, and cost can be expected to follow.