[From "functional syndrome to "somatoform disorder". The new ICD-10 classification]

Somatization disorders are particularly common in internal and general medicine. They affect in particular the gastrointestinal tract (irritable colon, non-ulcerous dyspepsia), the cardiovascular system (cardiac phobia), the respiratory system (hyperventilation syndrome) and include chronic pain syndromes. The earlier term "functional syndrome" has been discarded in favor of the category "somatization disorders". The new ICD10 classification created the basis for this internationally accepted revision. The classification into subtypes and the diagnostic criteria for somatization disorders in accordance with ICD10 are presented, as also are relevant differential diagnoses and co-morbidity.