• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.149-164
• /
• 2000

Somatization is regarded as a process rather than a diagnostic entity. It should be emphasized to identify psychopathology rather than to make a choice regarding diagnosis in assessing somatizing patients. Psychiatrists should be aware of the psychosocial cues underlying the patients' physical symptoms. Special skills and strategies are required by nonpsychiatric physicians to facilitate the patients' acceptance of psychiatric treatment. The goal of treatment for somatization is management but not cure. The approach should be flexible, depending on the patients' responses and need. The difficulty in diagnosing and treating somatization is likely to be related to abnormal illness behavior such as the patients' denial of their psychosocial problems and resistance to psychiatric approach. In conclusion, biopsychosocial approach is needed to treat these patients effectively. Psychiatrists should also teach other physicians the interview skill that they could identify these patients as early as possible and facilitate their acceptance of psychiatric treatment.