Abstract
Objectives : There are many patients with physical symptoms that are not explained by examinations. Recently, these physical symptoms are called "medically unexplained symptoms" or "medically unexplained physical symptoms" in the Western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course and relationship with other psychiatric disorders of the medically unexplained symptoms of the patients in adolescence. In this study, we considered that the undifferentiated somatoform disorder is the most common disease, which shows medically unexplained symptoms. Method : The subjects were Eighty-one young patients (36 males and 45 females) with undifferentiated somatoform disorder in DSM-IV. Accompanying other psychiatric disorders, frequency of personality disorders, period of visiting hospital for treatment, treatment conditions, outcomes, and suspension of business or absence from work were examined from the first inspection inquiry and clinical records. Results : Other psychiatric disorders were observed in 48% of all patients, and 21% were classified into the region of psychotic disorders. Personality disorders were found in 36% of all patients and the rate was higher in the patients of undifferentiated somatoform disorder with other psychiatric disorders. There were a few patients who continued to visit hospital for treatment for a long period. Improved physical symptoms were indicated in 25% of all patients and the absence from school or job was observed in 37% of all patients. Conclusion : The patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder showed accompanying psychiatric disorders and social function was liable to be decreased. These patients with psychiatric disorders more often accompany personality disorders than the patients without psychiatric disorders.
