Nosological journey of somatoform disorders: From briquet's syndrome to bodily distress disorder

Abstract

Classification of bodily, physical, or somatic symptoms has been a challenge since the classificatory systems have been introduced. The names/labels have undergone a change from hysteria to bodily distress disorder to remove the pejorative terms. The diagnostic criteria have also been modified as there have been significant criticisms of the utility of the categories included under somatoform disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and International Classification of Disease, Eleventh Edition have addressed some of the concerns that were raised in the previous version of the classifications by renaming the categories and simplifying the diagnostic criteria to improve clinical utility of the diagnostic categories.

Keywords

• Bodily distress disorders
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Eleventh Edition
• Fifth Edition
• International Classification of Disease
• nosology
• somatic symptom
• somatoform disorders