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Somatoform disorders and functional symptoms 

Somatoform disorders and functional symptoms
Chapter:
Somatoform disorders and functional symptoms
Author(s):

Richard Mayou

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199696758.003.0127
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date: 27 January 2021

Non-specific symptoms that are not explained by organic pathology are extremely frequent in the general population and in all medical settings. Most are transient, but a substantial minority is persistent, disabling, and often associated with frequent consultation. They are likely, especially when there are multiple unexplained sym-ptoms, to be associated with psychiatric disorder (see Chapter 5.2.3). They are widely regarded as difficult to treat but only a very small proportion is seen by psychiatrists and psychologists. This chapter covers general issues relating to functional symptoms and syndromes and their psychiatric associations. The following chapters provide more detail about the more specific forms of somatoform disorder and about functional syndromes (pain, chronic fatigue).

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