Somatoform Disorder

This is a disorder whereby physical symptoms are caused by mental or emotional factors (also called somatisation). For instance, mental or emotional stress can bring on physical ailments, from headaches to chest pains; fatigue to dizziness; back pain to nausea. While the medical profession is still not fully clear about the relationship between mind and body, it is accepted that such physical symptoms are real and not a figment of the patient's imagination.

Somatoform Disorder is relatively common and indeed many of us can remember instances where being under particular stress has caused our body to manifest physical symptoms, whether neck pain or headache. It is also relatively common to experience palpitations, shortness of breath and pains in various parts of the body when we feel anxious or depressed. Doctors understand that this is a real disorder and treat the physical symptoms while recognising it as such. However, the difficulty lies in the patient realising that their symptoms are caused by underlying emotional or mental difficulties.

A doctor will diagnose this disorder in cases where the physical symptoms are severe or where they have persisted over the long-term, while all tests for a physical disease have found nothing. Treatment depends entirely on the patient accepting that their symptoms are due to mental causes and typically includes behavioural or cognitive therapy rather than medication. If you believe that you or someone you love may be suffering from Somatoform Disorder as a result of clinical negligence, professional negligence or an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. However, it is very important to have received medical treatment and to talk to experts in personal injury compensation claims such as Claim-Easy.