Somatic Symptom Disorders Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Apr 23, 2019
  • Author: William R Yates, MD, MS; Chief Editor: Glen L Xiong, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

Somatic symptom disorders must be differentiated from medical illnesses and from other psychiatric conditions; consider medical conditions that cause vague and diffuse symptoms. In addition, consider somatization as part of a mood or anxiety disorder. Other problems to consider include the following:

  • Cerebrovascular accident

  • Encephalopathy

  • Dialysis encephalopathy

  • Hepatic encephalopathy

  • Uremic hypertensive encephalopathy

  • Chronic goiter

  • Toxic hallucinogens

  • Heroin abuse

  • Lyme borreliosis

  • Multiple sclerosis

Differential Diagnoses