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Somatic Symptom Disorder

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Psychosomatic Medicine

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Abstract

Patients with the diagnosis somatic symptom disorder/bodily distress disorder present multiple somatic symptoms and demand for medical exermination despite the lack of organic findings (dysfunctional illness behavior). The doctor-patient relationship is often difficult. Basic interventions are: taking the physical complaints seriously; showing the patient that you understand his helplessness, disappointment and anger; and exploring the subjective symptom beliefs. A three-stage model for intervention including a stepped-care approach is advised.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Kurt Fritzsche

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  1. Kurt Fritzsche
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Correspondence to Kurt Fritzsche .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Medical Center - University of Freiburg Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Kurt Fritzsche

  2. Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Susan H. McDaniel

  3. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Medical Center - University of Freiburg Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Michael Wirsching

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Fritzsche, K. (2020). Somatic Symptom Disorder. In: Fritzsche, K., McDaniel, S., Wirsching, M. (eds) Psychosomatic Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27080-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27080-3_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-27079-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-27080-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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