Somatoform Disorders

Somatoform disorders represent a group of disorders characterized by physical symptoms suggesting a medical disorder. However, somatoform disorders represent a psychiatric condition because the physical symptoms present in the disorder cannot be fully explained by a medical disorder, substance use, or another mental disorder. People with these disorders seek frequent reassurances from family, friends and clinicians. The main types of somatoform disorders are: somatisation disorder, conversion disorder, pain disorder, hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder.