Somatic Symptom Disorder: Awareness, Research and Resources
“If your body is screaming in pain, whether the pain is muscular contractions, anxiety, depression, asthma or arthritis, a first step in releasing the pain may be making the connection between your body pain and the cause. “Beliefs are physical. A thought held long enough and repeated enough becomes a belief. The belief then becomes biology.” ― Marilyn Van M. Derbur
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) is a mental health condition characterized by an intense focus on physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue, which causes significant emotional distress and impairs daily functioning 1 2. People with SSD often have excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to their physical symptoms, even when medical tests do not reveal a serious condition 2.
Key Features of Somatic Symptom Disorder:
Persistent Physical Symptoms: These can include pain, weakness, or shortness of breath.
Excessive Worry: Individuals may have ongoing thoughts that are out of proportion to the seriousness of their symptoms.
High Anxiety: There is often a high level of anxiety about health or symptoms.
Disruption in Daily Life: The symptoms cause significant distress and interfere with daily activities1 2.
Treatment Options:
Regular Medical Visits: Consistent check-ups with a trusted healthcare provider can help manage symptoms and provide reassurance.
Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals change their thinking patterns and behaviors related to their symptoms.
Medications: Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed if there is significant depression or anxiety 2 3.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of SSD, it’s important to seek professional help to manage the condition effectively." (Source: Microsoft Copilot 2024)
Regular Medical Visits: Consistent check-ups with a trusted healthcare provider can help manage symptoms and provide reassurance.
Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals change their thinking patterns and behaviors related to their symptoms.
Medications: Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed if there is significant depression or anxiety 2 3.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of SSD, it’s important to seek professional help to manage the condition effectively." (Source: Microsoft Copilot 2024)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Patients with Somatic Symptoms—Diagnostic and Therapeutic Difficulties MDPI
Estimated frequency of Somatic Symptom Disorder in General Practice: Cross-Sectional Survey with General Practitioners BMC Psychiatry
Estimated frequency of Somatic Symptom Disorder in General Practice: Cross-Sectional Survey with General Practitioners BMC Psychiatry
Expert Q&A: Somatic Symptom Disorder American Psychiatric Association
Exploring Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Case Report Psychiatric Times
Gender specific Somatic Symptom burden and Mortality Risk in the General Population Scientific Reports
Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Scoping Review on the Empirical Evidence of a New Diagnosis NIH
Somatic Symptom Disorder: Costly, Stressful for Patients and Providers, and Potentially Lethal The American Journal of Psychiatry
Management of Somatic Symptom Disorder Taylor & Francis
Psychological Risk Factors of Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies ScienceDirect
Recent Developments on Psychological Factors in Medically Unexplained Symptoms and Somatoform Disorders Frontiers in Public Health
Somatic Symptom Disorder Harvard Medical School
Psychological Risk Factors of Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies ScienceDirect
Somatic Symptom Disorder Mayo Clinic
Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Scoping Review on the Empirical Evidence of a New Diagnosis NIH
Somatic Symptom Disorder: Costly, Stressful for Patients and Providers, and Potentially Lethal The American Journal of Psychiatry
Somatic Symptom Disorder in Adults Cleveland Clinic
The Evaluation and Treatment of Somatic Symptom Disorder in Primary Care Practices Psychiatrist
The Framework for Systematic Reviews on Psychological Risk Factors for Persistent Somatic Symptoms and related Syndromes and Disorders (PSY-PSS) Frontiers in Psychiatry
The Importance of Early Diagnosis of Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Case Report NIH
Treating Somatic Symptom Disorder and illness Anxiety in Integrated Care Settings American Psychological Association
The Evaluation and Treatment of Somatic Symptom Disorder in Primary Care Practices Psychiatrist
The Framework for Systematic Reviews on Psychological Risk Factors for Persistent Somatic Symptoms and related Syndromes and Disorders (PSY-PSS) Frontiers in Psychiatry
The Importance of Early Diagnosis of Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Case Report NIH
Treating Somatic Symptom Disorder and illness Anxiety in Integrated Care Settings American Psychological Association
What is Somatic Symptom Disorder? American Psychiatric Association
Somatic symptom disorder - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment