Somatization - a culture-bound or universal syndrome?

Abstract

It has been traditionally believed that somatization occurs predominantly in non-Western and developing societies and among ethnic groups in the West. Somatic complaints have also been described as altered expressions of emotional distress by less sophisticated patients who are unable to express emotional states. However, there is growing evidence that suggests that somatic expression of psychological distress is a universal phenomenon and that the presence of large numbers of somatic symptoms is strongly associated with the overt expression of psychological distress in Western cultures too. There is an urgent need to develop appropriate training strategies and educational materials for all types of health professionals to identify and manage psychological problems in their patients.