ABSTRACT
In this era of health care reforms and managed care, early recognition and treatment of certain Somatoform Disorders and Psychosomatic Disorders is extremely important. A patient with Somatization Disorder or Conversion Disorder, for example, may undergo highly expensive diagnostic procedures unnecessarily before the real diagnosis is recognized and addressed appropriately. Similarly, inappropriate medical care can be avoided if patients with Panic Disorder are identified and treated effectively instead of going through repeated cardiological examinations and expensive procedures. Mental health professionals are much better equipped than other health care providers to identify and treat such patients. Mental health providers will hold an increasingly important, ifnot critical position, in order that health care be delivered effi-
