Somatic symptoms – An update according DSM-5

Abstract

Somatization represents the appearance of unexplained symptoms or other unintentionally produced complaints which are frequently related to nervous system, so that neurologists are often the first step where patients come for diagnosis. After exclusion of organic pathology and lack of results of symptomatic treatments, patients are sometimes related to a psychiatrist, even though this should happen more often, but fear of attending a psychiatrist is one of the greatest prejudices of the Romanian society today. We’re reviewing the Classification of Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders according to Diagnosis and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) of Mental Disorders; this is a new category in the classification, as this kind of pathology is a frequent one, in direct relation with anxiety and mood disorders, and incidence of this kind of troubles is increasing constantly, with immense associated health care costs and a high burden of disease, as up to 33.7% of the population is affected by an anxiety disorder during their lifetime (1) and this percent is constantly rising.

Keywords

• somatic symptoms
• anxiety
• depression
• medical care
• burden