title: Somatoform disorders--diagnostic concept, controlled clinical trials, and methodological issues.
abstract: The paper summarizes the concept of somatoform disorders, which was first introduced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in its third edition in 1980. The relevant clinical trials related to this concept are reviewed. On the basis of this experience, the present study discusses methodological requirements for clinical trials, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, measurements of efficacy and safety, and statistical considerations, in the hope that this will stimulate the use of this diagnostic entity in the future.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Volz
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stieglitz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Menges
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D009626:Terminology as Topic