Treatment outlines for the management of the somatoform disorders. The Quality Assurance Project

Abstract

The Quality Assurance Project is developing explicit and detailed treatment outlines for each of the major psychiatric disorders. Three sources of information are used: the treatment outcome literature, the opinions of a sample of practising psychiatrists and the views of a panel of nominated experts. The recommendations for the treatment of somatoform disorders were as follows: brief dynamic psychotherapy, family therapy and excellent medical consultation are the basis for the treatment of hypochondriasis. Limited long-term supportive psychotherapy and good medical consultation are important in somatization disorder. Symptom relief, psychotherapeutic support and meticulous collaboration with physicians are the keys to managing psychogenic pain disorder. Physiotherapy to improve physical functioning and patient education to facilitate the distinction between normal symptoms and abnormal illness behaviours are important in all three conditions. Neither the benzodiazepines nor behaviour therapy appear to be of use in these conditions.