Severe somatization in women is associated with altered cerebral glucose metabolism.
BACKGROUND
Somatization is a clinical phenomenon characterized by multiple, medically unexplained somatic symptoms. The pathophysiology remains unknown. We aimed to test the hypothesis of a central nervous system dysfunction in the pathophysiology of this disorder.


METHODS
We studied 10 female patients diagnosed as having somatization disorder or undifferentiated somatoform disorder with no current Axis I disorders according to DSM-IV. They were compared with 17 healthy female volunteers using brain [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET with MRI reference.


RESULTS
The patients had lower cerebral metabolism rates of glucose (P<0.05) in both caudate nuclei, left putamen and right precentral gyrus compared with healthy volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to demonstrate changes in brain metabolism in somatizing women. The regional cerebral hypometabolism is probably associated with the pathophysiology of somatization.
Hakala
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku PET Centre, PET Unit and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Accelerator Laboratory, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Karlsson
H
H
Ruotsalainen
U
U
Koponen
S
S
Bergman
J
J
Stenman
H
H
Kelavuori
J P
JP
Aalto
S
S
Kurki
T
T
Niemi
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose