Somatoform disorder (patient information)

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Synonyms and Keywords: Pain disorder

• Somatoform pain disorder is pain that is severe enough to disrupt a person’s everyday life.

• The pain is like that of a physical disorder, but no physical cause is found. The pain is thought to be due to psychological problems.

• The pain that people with this disorder feel is real. It is not created or faked on purpose (malingering).

• The main symptom of somatoform pain disorder is chronic pain that lasts for several months and limits a person’s work, relationships, and other activities.

• Patients are often very worried or stressed about their pain.

• In the past, this disorder was thought to be related to emotional stress. The pain was often said to be “all in their head.”

• However, patients with somatoform pain disorder seem to experience painful sensations in a way that increases their pain level. Pain and worry create a cycle that is hard to break.

• People who have a history of physical or sexual abuse are more likely to have this disorder. However, not every person with somatoform pain disorder has a history of abuse.

• As researchers learn more about the connections between the brain and body, there is more evidence that emotional well-being affects the way in which pain is perceived.

Call your health care provider if you or your child experiences chronic pain.

• A thorough medical evaluation, including laboratory work and radiologic scans (MRI, CT, ultrasound, x-ray), is done to determine possible causes of the pain.

• Somatoform pain disorder is diagnosed when these tests do not reveal a clear source of the pain.

• Prescription and nonprescription pain medications often do not work very well. These medications also can have side effects, and may carry the risk for abuse.

• Chronic pain syndromes of all types can often be treated with antidepressants and talk therapy.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a kind of talk therapy, can help you deal with your pain. During therapy, you will learn:

• To recognize what seems to make the pain worse
• To develop ways of coping with the painful body sensations
• To keep yourself more active, even if you still have the pain

• Antidepressant medications also often help with both the pain and the worry surrounding the pain. Commonly used antidepressants include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Tricyclic antidepressants

• Some patients may not believe that their pain is connected to emotional factors and may refuse these treatments.

• Supportive measures that also can be helpful include:

• Distraction techniques
• Hot and cold packs
• Hypnosis
• Massage
• Physical therapy
• Stress reduction exercises

[Directions to Hospitals Treating Somatoform disorder

• The outlook is worse for patients who have had symptoms for a long time. Your outlook will improve if you can start doing your previous activities, even with the pain.

• Seeking out a mental health professional who has experience treating people with chronic pain has been shown to improve outcomes.

• Addiction to prescription pain medications (if they are not used correctly)
• Complications from surgery
• Depression and anxiety

People with this disorder may benefit from treatment at pain centers.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000922.htm

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