Somatoform Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

Some rare Somatoform Disorders do not fit into the specific classifications, but clearly are mental disorders deserving clinical attention. One of the more interesting examples is false pregnancy (the technical name is "pseudocyesis"). The symptoms may impressively mimic true pregnancy, including nausea, an enlarged abdomen, and even breast enlargement and secretions. Labor pains may be felt at the expected time of delivery, but no medical condition accounts for all of the above symptoms. Other examples that fit this category include Hypochondriasis of less than the required 6 months duration, or other physical complaints of less than 6 months duration that do not have a detectable medical cause or arise from another mental disorder.

                                                                                                                                Last updated  12/19/03