title: Diagnostic classification and demographic features in 283 patients with somatoform disorder.
abstract: A total of 283 patients with somatoform disorder (SFD) seen in a psychiatry clinic were surveyed and their diagnostic subtypes, demographic features, and comorbidities, analyzed. The results indicate that: (i) SFD comprises 5.8% of first-visit outpatients; (ii) undifferentiated SFD (USFD) and SFD not otherwise specified (SFD-NOS) account for the majority of patients; (iii) there are 1.7-fold more women than men; (iv) age of onset is lower in patients with somatization disorder or body dysmorphic disorder and higher in patients with hypochondriasis or pain disorder; (v) the mean number of years of education was 11.2 years; and (vi) comorbid illness were seen in 24.8% of patients, and included mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and personality disorder, as well as borderline intellectual functioning and mental retardation. The data indicate that the majority of patients with SFD are given a diagnosis of residual category, such as USFD or SFD-NOS, and that the age of onset varies depending on the diagnostic subtype. SFD was more frequently seen in women, associated with comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwabara
authors.forename: Michito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shindo
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shioiri
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Someya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*