Etiology of Somatoform Disorders
Personality, cognitive factors, and learning appear to be involved in the
etiology of somatoform disorders.
Personality Factors
Some researchers have suggested that people with histrionic
personality traits are more likely to develop somatoform disorders.
Histrionic people enjoy being the center of attention. They
tend to be self-focused, excitable, highly open to suggestion, very
emotional, and dramatic.
Cognitive Factors
Researchers have proposed that several cognitive factors contribute to
somatoform disorders:
- People with these disorders may pay too much attention to bodily
sensations.
- They may make catastrophic conclusions when they experience minor
symptoms.
- They may have distorted ideas about good health and expect healthy
people to be free of any symptoms or discomfort.
Learning
People with somatoform disorders may learn to adopt a sick role
because they are reinforced for being sick. Rewards that help to maintain
sickness include attention and sympathy from others and avoidance of work
and family challenges.
