NURS 3130 Chapter Notes - Chapter 32: Somatic Symptom Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Alexithymia
Document Summary
Keyconcepts somatization (from soma, meaning body) is the manifestation of psychological distress as physical symptoms that may result in functional changes, somatic descriptions, or both. Today, we understand that somatization is not linked to the uterus nor is it just a problem for women. Much research is still needed in this area to be able to make any valid and reliable conclusions about gender and somatization. Somatization also crosses all cultures and is recognized in almost every society (ma-kellams, 2014; zhou et al. , 2016). Somatic symptom disorder (ssd) is one of the most difficult disorders to manage because its symptoms tend to change, are diffuse and complex, and vary and move from one body system to another. For example, initially gastrointestinal (e. g. , nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and neurologic (e. g. , headache, backache) symptoms may be present that change to musculoskeletal (e. g. , aching legs) and sexual issues (e. g. , pain in the abdomen, pain during intercourse).