Somatization is a common and underestimated disorder. It is a way for the body to protect itself from psychological suffering. When somatoform disorders are chronic, treatment is based on psychotherapy and / or the prescription of antidepressants.

Somatization is the expression of intra-psychic or psycho-social suffering through bodily complaints, which can lead to a medical consultation. Somatization is the most common expression of anxiety and mood disorders. Doctors speak of psychosomatic, functional, somatization, conversion disorders or somatoforms. 

According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), somatoform disorders are “characterized by physical symptoms associated with demands for medical investigation, persisting despite repeated negative assessments. The proven presence of an authentic physical disorder does not make it possible to account for the nature or the seriousness of the patient’s symptoms. The patient is opposed to any psychological hypothesis that could explain his disorders, even when the context suggests it or there are obvious depressive or anxious symptoms ”

Somatization is underestimated. It has been estimated that about 10% of the lifelong population is affected by a somatization problem and that 25% of general practice patients suffer from somatoform disorders. One third of symptoms in general practice are medically unexplained. 75% are improved or disappear after a medical consultation, but 25% remain chronic. A quarter of somatic symptoms in hospital remain medically unexplained despite numerous investigations.  

Women and vulnerable populations are the most affected. 

There are predisposing factors to somatization: sexual abuse in childhood, somatization in parents. 

Somatization disorders result in the presence of multiple, recurring and variable physical symptoms. These often involve the gastrointestinal tract or the skin. They can also show up in the form of period pain or vaginal pain during sex (dyspateunia). These symptoms have given rise to numerous negative medical investigations. 

Persistent somatoform pain syndrome often results in intense and persistent pain, not fully explained by a physical or physiological problem, in the context of emotional and / or psychosocial problems. 

Somatization disorders have family, social and professional repercussions. 

Somatization is the means implemented by the body to protect itself from too much psychic tension. The body expresses with “loud cries” a psychic suffering. 

Different contextual factors have been mentioned as possible causes of somatization: a history of trauma in childhood, childhood exposure to death, divorce, serious illness in the family or chronic pain in family members. It was also observed that the patients presenting, in adulthood, a somatoform disorder would have had parents reinforcing the somatic expression in them to the detriment of the expression of the emotions. These parents would have had somatizing behaviors themselves. 

People with major depression as well as those with anxiety disorders or affective disorders show more symptoms of somatization. 

Somatization is associated with personality disorders in 50 to 70% of cases: histrionic personality, antisocial personality, avoidant personality, obsessive-compulsive, dependent, narcissistic.

Chronic somatoform disorders can be managed with antidepressants. If the person who somatizes is aware of his disorder, he can follow psychotherapy (psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy. Body therapies, systemic therapies, relaxation…).