What the difference between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Somatization disorder?
Friday, December 18th, 2009 at
5:04 pm
They seem very simlar:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000955.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/cfsbasicfacts.htm
I’d prefer if a psychology major or pre-med major answered but anyone can answer if they think they have a valid answer.
Filed under: Diseases And Conditions
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Somatization disorder is a psychological disorder that manifests itself as unexplainable physical symptoms within a person. When people go to the doctor repeatedly with symptoms for which the doctor can find no physical cause, somatization will be considered for the diagnosis. While Somatization disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are both mysterious and treatment is difficult for healthcare professionals, they are not the same thing. The physical symptoms associated with Somatization disorder can vary greatly, while Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has a specific list of symptoms. It is possible that a person could have Somatization disorder and display symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is also possible that someone could have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and be incorrectlyd diagnosed with a somatization disorder, but they are not the same thing. Basically, Somatization disorder manifests itself because of psychological reasons. More often than not, traumatic past experiences are the cause of Somatization disorder and, often, patients’ symptoms are resolved spontaneously. True Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a physical illness that does not have any psychological causes.
A Somatization Disorder is a specific kind of Somatoform Disorder.
To be diagnosed with Somatization Disorder, you must have at least 8 physical problems (4 pain, 2 gastrointestinal, 1 sexual, and 1 pseudoneurological), with no physical cause. Somatization Disorder implies there is a psychological cause to the many ailments. So you can see that the requirements for somatization disorder are very stringent.
The causes of CFS aren’t well known. But the main symptom is, obviously, fatigue.
Since CFS isn’t believed to be caused [entirely] by psychological problems, it isn’t considered a somatoform disorder. However, a somatoform disorder may contribute to CFS.
Found this on a site:
Factors suspected of promoting chronic fatigue syndrome:
Hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood)
Endocrine dysfunction
Immune dysfunction
Stress-related dysfunction
A Somatoform disorder
Marginal nutritional deficiencies
Intestinal hyperpermeability (leaky gut syndrome)
Overgrowth of pathogenic intestinal flora (dysbiosis)
Food intolerances
Chemical sensitivities
Chemical toxicity
Heavy metal toxicity
I don’t meet your requirements, but I hope that helps.