Somatoform disorders are a group of psychiatric disorders in which physical pain and complaints are present, but as a result of the checks and examinations, no disease indicating the source of the distress can be diagnosed.
Patients suffering from somatoform disorders are seen in various regions (often the back, abdomen, In addition to pain in the head and joints, patients consult doctors with dizziness, nausea, bloating, respiratory problems and sexual problems. Despite all the examinations, no physical findings are found that could cause this type of pain or discomfort. They are so sure that the problems they experience are the harbingers of a very serious disease that they go from hospital to hospital thinking that the doctor cannot diagnose them, and most of the time they lose their faith in doctors and accept the existence of a disease and try to treat themselves accordingly. It is frequently encountered. 12 out of every 100 people experience a somatoform disorder during their lifetime.
Somatoform disorders can occur in various ways. The two most common types are Somatization disorder (Briquet Syndrome) and Hypochondriasis disorder, or "disease disease" as it is popularly known.
In somatization disorder, there is pain, numbness or loss of function in at least four different limbs (back, waist, head). , neck, etc.), two digestive system disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, etc.), one sexual problem (sexual reluctance, dysfunction, menstrual frequency, etc.) and one pseudoneurological reaction (balance disorder, vision loss). or double vision, hearing loss, voice loss, etc.). If no physical cause can be found for any of these problems, this person should be considered to have somatization disorder.
For example, a person often If she complains of pain and at the same time experiences frequent stiffness in the waist, shoulder and back areas, if her menstruation is later than usual, if she experiences nausea and dizziness, and if she complains of losing her balance from time to time, this person should be diagnosed with somatization disorder after examinations and treatment should be made by a psychiatrist and It should be continued under the guidance of a psychotherapist.
Hypochondriasis disorder occurs as a result of intense anxiety and fears experienced by the person about his or her own body. They see the symptoms they feel in their own body, which are not really worth paying much attention to, as a very serious disorder that needs to be treated urgently. Simply put, a person who experiences a headache in windy weather fears that this pain is due to a tumor in his brain. Or, a person who experiences heartburn due to a very spicy meal may find himself in the hospital with concerns that he is suffering from stomach bleeding.
Although hypochondriac people know that these fears are meaningless, they have problems controlling their behavior and thoughts.
These people sometimes attribute an illness experienced by someone close to them, or sometimes a new illness they only hear about or see in the media.
Although the causes of somatoform disorders are not fully known, two views are emphasized.
According to the first view, somatoform disorders are thought to be stress-based. It is thought that physical difficulties experienced are a defense mechanism produced by the brain to protect itself from stress. It is thought that individuals develop physical symptoms to avoid experiencing mental problems such as depression or anxiety. Another view is that people are somehow extremely sensitive to their bodies. These people are affected by environmental factors or they attach great importance to physical health with certain traumas. They follow even the slightest pain, which would not normally be expected to be noticed, and think at length about its cause. With the motto "Early diagnosis is very important", they attribute all fatal diseases to themselves and try to take precautions in advance.
Psychotherapy is useful in the treatment of Somatoform Disorders. Giving people insight into themselves will allow them to interpret the situation they are experiencing more accurately. Drug therapy is used in addition to therapy in some cases.
The most important thing to consider in somatoform patients is that they are in real physical distress. Failure to diagnose any organic cause for physical complaints does not mean that the patient is healthy and is faking it. Relatives of the patient should always keep this situation in mind. Because while patients with somatoform disorder already experience a problem that is most likely caused by stress, they will remain in a state of great sadness and stress as the people closest to them constantly criticize them and do not take their situation seriously, which will cause the disorders experienced to progress in a negative direction.
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