somatic symptom disorder

noun

plural somatic symptom disorders

Definition of somatic symptom disorder

: a disorder characterized by a heightened awareness of various physical bodily sensations or symptoms accompanied by the tendency to interpret these sensations and symptoms as indicative of medical illness specifically : the manifestation of one or more physical bodily sensations, symptoms, or complaints (such as pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath) that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition and that causes excessive concern, distress, anxiety, preoccupation, and impairment The major criteria for somatic symptom disorder are persistent (lasting 6 months or more), significant somatic symptoms that are associated with disproportionate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, such as extreme levels of anxiety. — Mary Ellen Schneider — compare illness anxiety disorder

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“Somatic symptom disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somatic%20symptom%20disorder. Accessed 18 Aug. 2022.

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somatic symptom disorder

noun

Medical Definition of somatic symptom disorder

: a disorder that is characterized by a heightened awareness of various physical bodily sensations or symptoms accompanied by the tendency to interpret these sensations and symptoms as indicative of medical illness specifically : the manifestation of one or more physical bodily sensations, symptoms, or complaints (as pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath) that usually exist over a period of time (as several months or more), cannot be fully explained by a medical condition or are in excess of what would be expected when a diagnosed medical condition is present, and that causes excessive concern, distress, anxiety, preoccupation, and impairment As defined in the DSM-5, somatic symptom disorder consists of one or more somatic symptoms … . Symptoms do not have to be medically elusive … , but must result in excessive or disproportionate thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors by the patient in response to their presence. — Primary Care Reports

— called also somatoform disorder, somatization disorder

— compare illness anxiety disorder