title: Somatization or psychosomatic symptoms?
abstract: The author describes some problems emerging from the approach to and comprehension of somatization symptoms, discussing ambiguities regarding somatization seen in the current classification manuals (ICD-10 and DSM-IV). Then the author presents a case report of a man who presented with a bizarre symptom of feminization that was successfully treated with psychotherapy. The author ends with a discussion of the relationship between meaning and symptom.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. lazslo@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Lazslo Antonio
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Avila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome