Biomaterial Database

The psychological significance of somatic complaints. 1982

R Anstett, and M Collins

Patients experiencing psychological distress often come to their physicians with primarily somatic complaints. While patients provide their physicians with multiple clues that there is a functional cause to their complaints, physicians often fail to recognize these. Psychological states, including depression, schizophrenia, hypochondriasis, malingering, conversion reactions, anxiety states, the "identified patient" in a dysfunctional family, and the patient with a "hidden agenda" are examples of this somatization process. Physicians may recognize these problems and avoid needless interventions if they consider these diagnostic possibilities and ask their patients questions that differentiate the various psychological possibilities.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006998	Hypochondriasis	Preoccupation with the fear of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms. (APA, DSM-IV)	Neurosis, Hypochondriacal,Hypochondriacal Neuroses,Hypochondriacal Neurosis
D008297	Male		Males
D008306	Malingering	Simulation of symptoms of illness or injury with intent to deceive in order to obtain a goal, e.g., a claim of physical illness to avoid jury duty.
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009497	Neurotic Disorders	Disorders in which the symptoms are distressing to the individual and recognized by him or her as being unacceptable. Social relationships may be greatly affected but usually remain within acceptable limits. The disturbance is relatively enduring or recurrent without treatment.	Neuroses,Psychoneuroses,Disorder, Neurotic,Disorders, Neurotic,Neurotic Disorder
D010554	Personality Disorders	A major deviation from normal patterns of behavior.	Avoidant Personality Disorder,Impulse-Ridden Personality,Inadequate Personality,Avoidant Personality Disorders,Impulse Ridden Personality,Personality Disorder,Personality Disorder, Avoidant,Personality Disorders, Avoidant,Personality, Impulse-Ridden,Personality, Inadequate
D003291	Conversion Disorder	A disorder whose predominant feature is a loss or alteration in physical functioning that suggests a physical disorder but that is actually a direct expression of a psychological conflict or need.	Astasia-Abasia,Conversion Neurosis,Functional Movement Disorder,Functional Neurological Disorder,Hysteria, Conversion,Conversion Reaction,Astasia Abasia,Conversion Disorders,Conversion Hysteria,Conversion Neuroses,Disorder, Functional Movement,Disorder, Functional Neurological,Functional Movement Disorders,Functional Neurological Disorders,Movement Disorder, Functional,Movement Disorders, Functional,Neurological Disorder, Functional,Neurological Disorders, Functional,Neuroses, Conversion,Neurosis, Conversion
D003866	Depressive Disorder	An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent.	Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005260	Female		Females