Somatoform disorder

A Somatoform disorder, is a mental disorder characterized by physical symptoms that suggest physical illness. The symptoms that result from a somatoform disorder are due to mental factors. In people who have a somatoform disorder, medical test results are normal and do not explain the person's symptoms. Patients with this disorder often become worried about their health because the doctors are unable to find a cause for their health problems. Symptoms are sometimes similar to those of other illnesses and may last for several years. In somatoform disorders, sufferers perceive their plight (condizione, situazione) as real. Additionally, a somatoform disorder should not be confused with the more specific diagnosis of a somatization disorder. The most common somatoform disorders are hysteria (or conversion disorder), hypochondria and somatization disorder. Somatization disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis applied to patients who persistently complain of varied physical symptoms that have no identifiable physical origin. The disorder may begin before 30 years of age and could last for several years. One common general explanation is that internal psychological conflicts are unconsciously expressed as physical signs. Patients with somatization disorder will typically visit many doctors in pursuit (alla ricerca)of effective treatment. The most common symptoms of this disorder are colitis, gastritis, insomnia, tachycardia and headaches Hypochondria (sometimes referred to as health phobia or health anxiety) refers to excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness. Hypochondriacs become alarmed about any physical symptoms they detect. They are convinced that they have a serious illness Many individuals with hypochondriasis express doubt and disbelief in the doctors' diagnosis, and report that doctors reassurance about an absence of a serious medical condition is unconvincing. Additionally, many hypochondriacs experience elevated blood pressure, stress, and anxiety in the presence of doctors or while occupying a medical facility, a condition known as "white coat syndrome." Many hypochondriacs require constant reassurance, either from doctors, family, or friends. Some hypochondriacal individuals completely avoid any reminder of illness, whereas others frequently visit doctors offices. Hysteria, also called conversion disorder, is a condition in which patients present with neurological symptoms such as deafness, blindness, or paralysis without a neurological cause. It is thought that these problems arise (insorgono) in response to difficulties in the patient's life, and conversion is considered a psychiatric disorder . The term "conversion" has its origins in Freud's doctrine that anxiety is "converted" into physical symptoms