Which description best describes Somatic Symptom Disorder?

• A. Illness anxiety disorder
• B. Chronic condition with physical symptoms in more than one body part with no physical cause, accompanied by excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors about those symptoms
• C. Conversion disorder
• D. Factitious disorder

Answer: (B)

The key idea is a pattern where real, distressing bodily symptoms exist across multiple areas, but the focus and worry about those symptoms are excessive and disproportionate to any medical finding. Somatic symptom disorder describes persistent somatic symptoms that cause significant distress or life disruption, with ongoing, exaggerated thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to those symptoms. That matches this description of having physical symptoms in more than one body part and being accompanied by excessive preoccupation or anxiety about them.

Illness anxiety disorder would be more about preoccupation with having a serious illness despite few or no somatic symptoms, so the emphasis isn’t on multiple persistent symptoms. Conversion disorder features neurological symptoms that don’t fit neurological disease patterns, not a general, persistent preoccupation with bodily symptoms. Factitious disorder involves intentionally producing or feigning symptoms to assume the sick role, not simply having distress about genuine symptoms.