title: Somatoform disorders in patients with chronic pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency and characteristics of somatoform disorders in patients with chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place in the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a rehabilitation hospital. Participants were interviewed using the World Health Organization Somatoform Disorders Schedule (WHO-SDS) version 2.0. Thirty new and 30 current attendees to the clinic were interviewed following referral by pain medicine specialists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Somatoform disorders were commonly co-morbid with chronic pain in the study population. Persistent somatoform pain disorder (PSPD) was the commonest somatoform disorder. There was a significant difference between women and men suffering from somatic autonomic dysfunction (SAD).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study confirm that somatoform disorders are common co-morbid diagnoses in patients with chronic pain. Combining psychological treatments with medication, appropriate physical treatments and attending to social issues, may indeed improve the well-being of such patients.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, The Northern Hospital - Psychiatry, Epping, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Indra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lawson-Smith
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Coall
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van der Watt
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janca
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009440:Neurasthenia / Q000523:psychology; D018401:Sample Size; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: chronic pain; persistent somatoform pain disorder; somatisation; somatoform autonomic dysfunction; somatoform disorders