Persistent bodily complaints for which adequate examination does not reveal sufficient explanatory structural or other specified pathology

Disorder types

Somatoform disorder

• Describes the presence of physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition, drug or other mental health disorder
• Common presenting symptoms are gastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal pain, fatigue, weakness and musculoskeletal symptoms
• Diagnosed when a patient has a significant focus on their physical symptoms to a level that results in major distress and/or problems functioning
• The patients demonstrates excessive thoughts, feelings and behaviours relating to the physical symptoms
• It is an unconscious process

Conversion disorder

• A psychiatric condition that results in a presentation of neurological symptoms without any underlying neurological cause (e.g. paralysis, pseudoseizures, sensory changes)
• It is not an intentional process, and the symptoms are very much ‘real’ to the patient
• It is linked to emotional stress

Hypochondriasis

• Patients have excessive concern that they will develop a serious illness despite a lack of evidence
• Patients often demand unnecessary tests and investigations, and can be quite debilitated as a result of their constant worrying
• Patients with hypochondriasis typically have no or very few symptoms unlike somatoform disorder where patients experience dramatic physical symptoms and experience a degree of disfunction

Munchausen's syndrome

• Patients intentionally fake signs and symptoms (e.g. adding blood to urine and complaining of pain) in order to gain attention and play ‘the patient role’

Malingering

• Patients intentionally fake or induce illness for secondary gain; e.g. drug seeking, disability benefits, avoiding work or prison time