Somatoform Disorders

Somatoform disorders involve physical symptoms that can’t be explained by medical conditions, often believed to be linked to emotional or psychological distress. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry offers comprehensive insights into these disorders, emphasizing their diagnosis, management, and underlying psychological mechanisms. Our expert editors curate content that is both clinically relevant and actionable, aiding psychiatrists in offering effective care.

Recently published articles about Somatoform Disorders

New Discovery Reveals Hair Follicles Have a Hidden 'Sixth Sense'

news

New Discovery Reveals Hair Follicles Have a Hidden 'Sixth Sense'

November 2, 2023

Researchers at Imperial College London discovered a new way that hair follicles play a role in how we sense touch.

A Novel Blood Test Could Revolutionize Chronic Fatigue Diagnosis

news

A Novel Blood Test Could Revolutionize Chronic Fatigue Diagnosis

September 13, 2023

In a new study, an experimental blood test returned a 91 percent accuracy rate for diagnosing chronic fatigue (ME/CFS) patients.

A Protein That Zaps Cellular Energy May Underlie Chronic Fatigue

news

A Protein That Zaps Cellular Energy May Underlie Chronic Fatigue

August 30, 2023

NIH researchers have identified a protein called WASF3 that disrupts cellular energy production in chronic fatigue (ME/CFS) patients.

The Weekly Mind Reader: Phantom Pregnancy in a Transgender Woman

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The Weekly Mind Reader: Phantom Pregnancy in a Transgender Woman

April 14, 2023

Case Report: What happens when a delusion is intrinsic to a patient’s gender identity but not compatible with her assigned sex at birth?

Somatization in Schizoaffective Disorder

Case Report

Somatization in Schizoaffective Disorder

August 30, 2022

The report describes the case of a woman with schizoaffective disorder and multiple somatic complaints and compares DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria.

Harshit Arora , Vasudha Sharma , Waryaam Singh

Original Research

Medical Students and Migraine

September 30, 2021

Migraine is a significant health issue among medical students. This study assessed the prevalence, characteristics, and triggers of migraine and coping strategies used among medical students in Saudi Arabia.

Azra Zafar , Saima Nazish , Majed Alabdali , et al

Recent JCP Articles on Somatoform Disorders

Brief Report

Trends in Psychiatric ED Visits Due to Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

September 1, 2020

Read a study from Spain comparing the trends in suicide ideation and attempts after the arrival of COVID-19.

Gonzalo Martínez-Alés , Beatriz Rodríguez-Vega , María Fe Bravo-Ortiz , et al

Original Research

Neuroanatomical and Serotonergic Hypotheses of OCD

October 9, 2018

In the search for a cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder, 2 theories have predominated: increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and low activity in the serotonergic system. Using fMRI and...

Georg Juckel , Christoph Mulert , Paraskevi Mavrogiorgou , et al

Meta-Analysis

Psychological Pain in Suicidality

August 29, 2017

It's been proposed that psychological pain is at the core of the suicidal process, from ideation to attempts. In this meta-analysis, intensity of psychological pain was compared in individuals...

Philippe Courtet , Laurent Boyer , Sebastien Guillaume , et al

Recent PCC Articles on Somatoform Disorders

Systematic Review

ECT as a Treatment for Somatization Disorder

May 20, 2021

Is ECT an effective treatment option for severe and refractory manifestations of somatization disorder? In this review, the authors investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ECT in somatization...

Ahmed Saeed Yahya , Shakil Khawaja

Case Report

Pramipexole Augmentation of Buprenorphine and Antidepressants

October 15, 2020

This report describes the use of pramipexole to augment buprenorphine and antidepressant medications in a patient with depression and severe chronic back pain.

A. John Rush , Rodrigo Escalona , Jan Fawcett

Original Research

Childhood Trauma, Defense Styles, and Tension Headache

August 27, 2020

Do traumatic experiences contribute to the onset of tension headache? This authors of this study investigate this question and identify the defense styles that are more frequently used by...

Sevda Korkmaz , Aslı Kazgan , Sevler Yıldız , et al

Featured Somatoform Disorders Research

Case Report

Delayed Diagnosis of a Pituitary Prolactinoma

March 12, 2020

Here, read about the case of a young man who evaded diagnosis of pituitary prolactinoma for 3 years despite debilitating psychiatric symptoms.

Domantas Mikonis , Alhasan Ghazzawi , Taryn E. Hoffman , et al

Article

Migraine Headache: Diagnosis and Current and Emerging Preventive Treatments

December 27, 2018

Most people with primary headache disorders, such as migraine, are undiagnosed. Read this PCC Supplement for updated classifications and assessments for patients with headache disorders and to identify and...

Richard B. Lipton , Stephen Silberstein

Letter to the Editor

Hyponatremia Associated With Tramadol

December 13, 2018

Low sodium can be a death knell if not caught early. Tramadol and some SSRIs can cause hyponatremia. It's not just the elderly who are vulnerable, as in this...

Amir Garakani