How does one know if one has somatoform disorder?
You find out by excluding physical causes to account for your symptoms. Specific characteristics of somatization disorder include the following: * Onset of unexplained medical symptoms in persons younger than 30 years * Multiple and chronic complaints of unexplained physical symptoms * Multiple pain symptoms involving multiple sites, such as the head, neck, back, stomach, and limbs * At least 2 or more unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and indigestion * At least 1 sexual complaint and/or menstrual complaint * At least 1 pseudoneurological symptom, such as blindness or inability to walk, speak, or move Primary somatoform disorders may be associated with a heightened awareness of normal bodily sensations. This heightened awareness may be paired with a cognitive bias to interpret any physical symptom as indicative of medical illness. Autonomic arousal may be high in some patients with somatization. This autonomic arousal may be associated with physiologic effects of en