Somatoform syndromes and disordersin a representative population sample of adolescents and young adults: prevalence, comorbidity and impairments

Abstract

To present prevalence findings of DSM-IV somatoform symptoms, syndromes and disorders in a representative sample of adolescents and young adults. Data come from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology (EDSP) study, in which a total of 3021 respondents aged 14-24 years were assessed by the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Although specific DSM-IV somatoform disorders were relatively rare with a lifetime rate of 2.7%, a considerably higher proportion of respondents met criteria for clinically significant somatoform syndromes as defined by the Somatic Symptom Index SSI4, 6 (lifetime: 1.7%), as well as the undifferentiated somatoform/dissociative syndrome USDS (lifetime: 9.1%), resulting in an overall prevalence rate of 12.6%. Somatoform conditions are often comorbid with other mental disorders and were found to be associated with remarkable impairments and disabilities. Somatoform disorders and syndromes in young adults are frequent, impairing and often associated with the development of other mental disorders.