Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Psychalgia
Introduction
Synonyms and keywords: Persistent somatoform pain disorder; phrenalgia
Overview
Overview
Psychalgia is psychological or emotional pain or distress that accompanies a mental effort, especially in clinical depression. It is also called phrenalgia. Psychalgia may also describe physical pain that is possibly of psychological origin.
Definition
Definition
Within the ICD-10 classification, psychalgia is another term for persistent somatoform pain disorder (F45.4).
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
The principal symptom is of persistent and distressing pain that cannot be accounted for by a physical complaint or physiological disorder. It occurs in relation to psychosocial issues or emotional stress in such a way as to suggest they are causative factors.
Psychogenic pain, and pain associated with an episode of depression or schizophrenia is excluded from this diagnosis.
References
References
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]