title: Somatization and somatic symptom presentation in cancer: a neglected area.
abstract: Abstract   The recognition of somatization process in cancer patients is a challenging and neglected area, for the extreme difficulty in differentiating and assessing the psycho(patho)logical components from those biologically determined and related to cancer and cancer treatment, as well as for the scarce usefulness of rigid categorical DSM criteria. However, several dimensions of somatization (and the interconnected concept of abnormal illness behaviour) have been shown to be diagnosable in cancer patients and to negatively influence coping and quality of life outcomes. An integration of the formal DSM-ICD nosology with a system specifically taking into account the patients' emotional responses to cancer and cancer treatment, such as the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), is suggested. More data on some specific symptom dimensions, including pain, fatigue and sexual disorders, are needed to examine their possible psychological components. More research is also needed regarding the association of somatization with personality traits (e.g. type D distressed personality, alexithymia), developmental dimensions (e.g. attachment), and cultural issues (e.g. culturally mediated attributional styles to somatic symptoms). Also, the impact and effectiveness of specific therapeutic intervention in 'somatizing' cancer patients is necessary.
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. luigi.grassi@unife.it
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Grassi
authors: Rosangela
authors: R
authors: Caruso
authors: Maria Giulia
authors: MG
authors: Nanni
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D019468:Disease Management; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011599:Psychopathology / Q000379:methods; D011603:Psychophysiology / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*