Somatic Symptom Disorders—presence of one or more symptoms- headache, back pain,
persistent lack of sleep, stomach upset, chronic tiredness
Somatization – psychological distress expressed in a physical symptom with no organic
source, causing substantial distress and psychosocial impairment with or without a known
organic source causes substantial distress and psychosocial impairment with or without a known
general medical disease.
DSM-5 presence of physical symptoms but also on the way an individual presents and interprets
them
Somatic symptoms disorders are more prevalent in women than men and diagnosed more
commonly in children who have experienced a traumatic event.
Somatization, depression and anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders in
primary care.
Somatic disorders impair occupational and social functioning resulting in decreased work load,
job absences and a lower quality of life and increased health care utilization costs. Complaints
relate more to the Body than the mind. This leads to “doctor shopping” looking for ways to
reduce symptoms, related to the stigma related to Mental health issues
Psychological Theory of Somatization
-Self-compassion – is associated with a number of (issues) symptoms and reduced health-related
quality of life and is a potential clinically relevant factor that may influence health factors
Self-compassion scale-page 159 - considered passionate vs. uncompassionate ways that
individuals emotionally respond to pain and failure with kindness or judgement and cognitively
understands their predicament as part of the human experience and pays attention to the suffering
mindful manner. Nurses can use this tool for their own self-development, administration to the
needs of patients as well as for education
Cognitive model- Cognitive theorists believe that the somatic disorders are the result of
negative, distorted, and catastrophic thoughts and reinforcement of the thoughts. For recovery of
the patient with a somatic symptom disorder the management of the concept of health locus of
control is very important.
Interpersonal model- Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been shown to increase more
negative outcomes in adults. Childhood trauma with physical or mental sexual abuse is
consistently linked with somatization or functional neurological disorders later in life. These
experiences can cause neurobiological changes in the volume of major brain structures. Also
children victimized by peers show a higher incidence somatic symptoms. Childhood adversity
correlates with overall adjustment disorders and decrease in resilience.
Loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan. (Similar to
smoking and even worse obesity). High levels of loneliness are associated with exaggerated
blood pressure and inflammatory reaction to acute stress. In turn damages blood vessels and
persistent lack of sleep, stomach upset, chronic tiredness
Somatization – psychological distress expressed in a physical symptom with no organic
source, causing substantial distress and psychosocial impairment with or without a known
organic source causes substantial distress and psychosocial impairment with or without a known
general medical disease.
DSM-5 presence of physical symptoms but also on the way an individual presents and interprets
them
Somatic symptoms disorders are more prevalent in women than men and diagnosed more
commonly in children who have experienced a traumatic event.
Somatization, depression and anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders in
primary care.
Somatic disorders impair occupational and social functioning resulting in decreased work load,
job absences and a lower quality of life and increased health care utilization costs. Complaints
relate more to the Body than the mind. This leads to “doctor shopping” looking for ways to
reduce symptoms, related to the stigma related to Mental health issues
Psychological Theory of Somatization
-Self-compassion – is associated with a number of (issues) symptoms and reduced health-related
quality of life and is a potential clinically relevant factor that may influence health factors
Self-compassion scale-page 159 - considered passionate vs. uncompassionate ways that
individuals emotionally respond to pain and failure with kindness or judgement and cognitively
understands their predicament as part of the human experience and pays attention to the suffering
mindful manner. Nurses can use this tool for their own self-development, administration to the
needs of patients as well as for education
Cognitive model- Cognitive theorists believe that the somatic disorders are the result of
negative, distorted, and catastrophic thoughts and reinforcement of the thoughts. For recovery of
the patient with a somatic symptom disorder the management of the concept of health locus of
control is very important.
Interpersonal model- Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been shown to increase more
negative outcomes in adults. Childhood trauma with physical or mental sexual abuse is
consistently linked with somatization or functional neurological disorders later in life. These
experiences can cause neurobiological changes in the volume of major brain structures. Also
children victimized by peers show a higher incidence somatic symptoms. Childhood adversity
correlates with overall adjustment disorders and decrease in resilience.
Loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan. (Similar to
smoking and even worse obesity). High levels of loneliness are associated with exaggerated
blood pressure and inflammatory reaction to acute stress. In turn damages blood vessels and
