What is the prognosis for somatoform disorders?
The prognosis for somatoform disorders depends, as a rule, on the patient’s age and whether the disorder is chronic or episodic. In general, somatization disorder and body dysmorphic disorder rarely resolve completely. Hypochondriasis and pain disorder may resolve if there are significant improvements in the patient’s overall health and life circumstances, and people with both disorders may go through periods when symptoms become less severe (remissions) or become worse (exacerbations). Conversion disorder tends to be rapidly resolved, but may recur in about 25% of all cases. Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
