The provided UK guidelines, such as those for rehabilitation after critical illness, depression in adults, or myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, do not specify direct diagnostic criteria for 'somatisation disorder' NICE CG83,NICE NG222,NICE NG206. However, recent international guidelines and literature address the diagnosis of 'somatoform disorders' and 'medically unexplained physical symptoms' (MUPS), which encompass the concepts previously associated with somatisation disorder van der Feltz-Cornelis et al. 2011Hausteiner-Wiehle et al. 2013.
When a patient presents with medically unexplained symptoms, the focus in newer guidelines for functional and somatoform disorders shifts from a specific number of symptoms to the presence of distressing physical symptoms accompanied by significant thoughts, feelings, or behaviours related to these symptoms Hausteiner-Wiehle et al. 2013. These symptoms must be persistent, typically for at least six months, and cause significant distress or functional impairment Hausteiner-Wiehle et al. 2013. The diagnostic approach for these conditions often involves a multidisciplinary perspective van der Feltz-Cornelis et al. 2011.
Key References
- CG83 - Rehabilitation after critical illness in adults
- NG222 - Depression in adults: treatment and management
- NG206 - Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management
- (van der Feltz-Cornelis et al., 2011): [The Dutch multidisciplinary guideline entitled 'Medically unexplained physical symptoms and somatoform disorder'].
- (Hausteiner-Wiehle et al., 2013): [New guidelines on functional and somatoform disorders].