Diagnosis of UNEXPLAINED SOMATIC COMPLAINTS F45

Presenting Complaints

• Any physical symptom may be present, and the most common symptoms being pain, anxiety and digestive syumptoms .
• Complaints may be single or multiple, but tend to be atypical or unusual.

Diagnostic Features

• Many physical symptoms, especially pain, without medical explanation (Proper history and physical examination are necessary to determine this)
• May be overly concerned about medical illness.
• Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common.
• Some patients may be primarily concerned with obtaining relief from physical symptoms. Others may be worried about having a physical illness and be unable to believe that no physical condition is present (hypchondriasis).
• Frequent medical visits and negative investigations

Differential Diagnosis

• Seeking narcotics for relief of pain may also be a sign of drug use disorder. See Drug use disorders.
• If low or sad mood is prominent, see section on Depression.
• If strange physical symptoms are present (e.g. belief that organs are decaying) see section on Acute Psychotic Disorders <>.
• If anxiety symptoms are prominent, see section on Panic Disorder.

Edited by Gavin Andrews MD, UNSW, Jan 03
© 2003 CRUfAD