Diagnostic classification and demographic features in 283 patients with somatoform disorder

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007 Jun;61(3):283-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01664.x.

Abstract

A total of 283 patients with somatoform disorder (SFD) seen in a psychiatry clinic were surveyed and their diagnostic subtypes, demographic features, and comorbidities, analyzed. The results indicate that: (i) SFD comprises 5.8% of first-visit outpatients; (ii) undifferentiated SFD (USFD) and SFD not otherwise specified (SFD-NOS) account for the majority of patients; (iii) there are 1.7-fold more women than men; (iv) age of onset is lower in patients with somatization disorder or body dysmorphic disorder and higher in patients with hypochondriasis or pain disorder; (v) the mean number of years of education was 11.2 years; and (vi) comorbid illness were seen in 24.8% of patients, and included mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and personality disorder, as well as borderline intellectual functioning and mental retardation. The data indicate that the majority of patients with SFD are given a diagnosis of residual category, such as USFD or SFD-NOS, and that the age of onset varies depending on the diagnostic subtype. SFD was more frequently seen in women, associated with comorbidities.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Age of Onset
  • Anxiety Disorders / complications
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Cognition Disorders / complications
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Dissociative Disorders / complications
  • Dissociative Disorders / epidemiology
  • Education
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / complications
  • Intellectual Disability / epidemiology
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mood Disorders / complications
  • Mood Disorders / epidemiology
  • Personality Disorders / complications
  • Personality Disorders / epidemiology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Sex Factors
  • Somatoform Disorders / classification
  • Somatoform Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Somatoform Disorders / epidemiology*