ABSTRACT
Somatoform disorders are those psychological conditions in which the focus is upon physical functioning, the soma. In these conditions, patients perceive themselves as physically ill, describe health symptoms, or describe worries about health, but they are without actual organic pathology. The diagnosis of Psychological Factors Affecting Physical Conditions refers to those conditions in which actual organic pathology is present, yet psychological factors are seen to trigger, intensify, or maintain the physical distress. In all of these conditions the focus is on the body. In all of these conditions, patients define themselves as physically ill. In all of these conditions, their physician disagrees partially or entirely with them.
