Many patients who are referred to physicians and surgeons have chronic physical complaints which cannot be understood or explained in terms of underlying organic pathology. For example, as many as one-half of patients attending a district general gastroenterology service have no relevant organic disease to account for their complaints (Reference Hamilton, Campos and CreedHamilton et al, 1996). Often, patients are discharged back to their general practitioners in the hope that the symptoms will diminish, but the evidence from follow-up studies suggests that, more often than not, they will continue to report physical symptoms and associated disability (Reference Mayou, Bryant and ClarkMayou et al, 1994). Once such patients develop complaints that last longer than 6 months they become difficult to help, and if their ability to work is impaired they may become dependent on state benefits (Reference Sharpe, Mayou and SeagroattSharpe et al, 1994). Most will satisfy diagnostic criteria for somatoform disorders. Because somatoform disorders are common and severe, they ought more often to be treated by psychiatrists or clinical psychologists. We discuss reasons why they are not, and consider ways in which this neglect can be corrected.

PREVALENCE OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS

Epidemiological studies of chronic wide-spread pain and chronic fatigue carried out in primary care settings have revealed the extraordinary scale of the problem. For example, in a World Health Organization study Gureje et al (Reference Gureje, Von Korff and Simon1998) found that 22% of primary care patients reported persistent pain and that pain sufferers were more likely than those without pain to have an anxiety or depressive disorder and to experience significant activity limitations. Similar high prevalence rates have been reported for chronic fatigue syndrome, with a recent British study finding the point prevalence in the general population to be 2.6% (Reference Wessely, Chalder and HirschWessely et al, 1997). These findings suggest that chronic fatigue syndrome is almost as common as diabetes and significantly more common than anorexia nervosa.

Another important disorder, seen almost exclusively in general hospital and primary care settings, is somatisation disorder. Although the prevalence rate has been estimated to be 0.5% the true rate is probably higher, closer to 1%, which is about as common as schizophrenia (Reference Bhui and HotopfBhui & Hotopf, 1997). Even an attenuated form of somatisation characterised by three or more medically unexplained but currently bothersome symptoms plus a 2-year history of somatisation has a prevalence of 8.2% in primary care (Reference Kroenke, Spitzer and de GruyKroenke et al, 1997).

Conversion hysteria is considered by many psychiatrists almost to have disappeared as a clinical entity since the days of Freud (Anonymous, 1976). This belief, encouraged by the publication nearly 40 years ago of an influential but misleading paper by Slater (Reference Slater1965), has led to a dearth of research into this subject until recently (Reference Crimlisk, Bhatia and CopeCrimlisk et al, 1998). Prevalence studies carried out in the general population are rare, and the lowest figures suggest a rate of about 50 per 100 000, with perhaps twice that number affected over a 1-2 year period (Reference Akagi, House, Halligan, Bass and MarshallAkagi & House, 2001).

DISABILITY AND THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS

Patients with multiple somatic complaints not only present formidable management problems but also often have severe functional impairments that may outweigh those of patients with other so-called severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia (Reference Hiller, Rief and FichterHiller et al, 1997).

Some somatoform disorders, especially those associated with chronic widespread pain (fibromyalgia) and persistent fatigue, have been shown to be associated with marked functional impairment (Reference Buchwald, Pearlman and UmaliBuchwald et al, 1996). The impact of somatoform disorders on occupational function deserves closer attention, especially at a time when disability payments are spiralling (The Economist, 22 May 1999). It has been established that the majority of patients with chronic pain attending a regional clinic are chronically disabled and dependent (Reference Benjamin, Barnes and BergerBenjamin et al, 1988), yet few of these patients are likely to be assessed by clinical psychologists or psychiatrists, as recommended in a recent editorial advocating joint working between liaison psychiatrists and pain doctors (Dolin & Stevens, 1998).

One of the most severe of the somatoform disorders (somatisation disorder) is associated with gross functional impairment. In a UK sample 10% were confined to wheelchairs (Reference Bass and MurphyBass & Murphy, 1991) and the self-rated physical functioning of these patients in a US survey was even poorer than in those suffering from a chronic organic disease (Reference Smith, Monson and RaySmith et al, 1986): patients spent an average of 7 days in bed each month.

Patients with conversion disorder are also often grossly disabled, especially when the symptoms have become chronic. Recent studies suggest a burden of disability associated with chronic hysteria which is far higher than a typical practising psychiatrist might suspect, or than is reflected in standard textbooks of psychiatry or clinical psychology (Reference Akagi, House, Halligan, Bass and MarshallAkagi & House, 2001). It is not uncommon to find patients who have become confined to wheelchairs (Reference Davison, Sharpe and WadeDavison et al, 1999).

WHY ARE SOMATOFORM DISORDERS NEGLECTED BY PSYCHIATRISTS?

Given that they are common and disabling, why do somatoform disorders continue to be ignored by psychiatrists and health service planners? There are four main reasons.

First, is the nature of psychiatric diagnostic practice. Psychiatric classifications ‘compartmentalise’ somatoform disorders into relatively homogeneous groupings with low prevalence such as hypochondriasis and conversion disorder. The much more common presentations of somatic distress — syndromes characterised by prolonged fatigue, musculoskeletal aches and pains and gastrointestinal symptoms — are then relegated to the poorly validated category of ‘undifferentiated somatoform disorders’. As a consequence they are not only marginalised from further clinical or research consideration but the true prevalence is underestimated.

Epidemiologists have contributed to this problem by failing to identify patients with psychologically based somatic presentations in large scale surveys. For example, the National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of Great Britain did not provide meaningful prevalence data for these disorders, mainly because only those patients who were screened positive for psychosis were interviewed by psychiatrists (Reference Jenkins, Lewis and BebbingtonJenkins et al, 1997). Similarly, the National Institute for Mental Health Epidemiological Catchment Area study, conducted in the USA, largely ignored all but the most severe and least common of the somatoform disorders (Reference Swartz, Landerman, George, Robins and RegierSwartz et al, 1991).

Second, there is psychiatry's current preoccupation with ‘serious mental illness’, which is usually equated with schizophrenia or bipolar illness. Non-psychotic disorders are then given low priority by clinicians and service planners. This approach was endorsed in a recent publication by the Audit Commission (1996), which recommended that not more than 10% of the psychiatric case-load should concern itself with people who do not have identifiable mental illnesses. Furthermore, the National Service Framework for Mental Health (Department of Health, 1999) contained no information about patients with somatoform disorders.

A recent welcome exception to this narrow approach was adopted by the Australian Health Ministers in their National Mental Health Plan (1998). This acknowledged that the overly restrictive interpretation of the term “severe mental health problems and mental disorders” led to the unforeseen consequence that “ some public health systems have excluded people seen as having less serious conditions and have erroneously equated severity with diagnosis rather than level of need and disability” (our italics). They concluded that funding systems must ensure that there are no financial disincentives to general practitioners, consultation/liaison services and other health professionals participating fully in the mental health care system.

The third reason is more prosaic: most psychiatrists do not work in general hospitals and therefore have limited experience of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Those that do work in these settings, however, find that such patients comprise between one-third and one-half of all referrals to the liaison psychiatry service (Reference Katon, Ries and KleinmannKaton et al, 1984).

The final reason these patients do not consult psychiatrists is a consequence of stigma. Because they have physical complaints for which they generally seek a physical cause, a psychological assessment is low on the list of the patient's priorities. The College's recent campaign against stigma (Changing Minds) has done little to address this substantial group of patients (Reference CrispCrisp, 1999).

STEPS TOWARDS REDUCING THE NEGLECT OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS

If we are to move somatoform disorders nearer to the centre of psychiatric practice (where they belong) there need to be changes: in the training of health professionals, in research and in service delivery.

Clinical Implications and Limitations