EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SOMATOFORM DISORDERS - A COMMUNITY SURVEY IN FLORENCE

Since the exclusion of somatic causes is necessary for somatoform diso rders (SMD) to be diagnosed, there is little information on the preval ence of such disorders in the community. As the method we have previou sly developed [general practitioners (GPs) with psychiatric training w ho interview samples representative of the general population] seemed to be appropriate to deal with the problem, we carried out a community survey focused on somatoform disorders. The prevalence rates of DSM-I II-R somatoform disorders were studied in two wards of the city of Flo rence. In order to be representative of the general population, 673 su bjects randomly selected were interviewed by their own GP. Four GPs, a ll with specific training in psychiatry, participated in the interview ing process. The 1-year prevalence figures were as follows: 0.7% body dysmorphic disorder; 4.5% hypochondriasis; 0.6% somatoform pain disord er; 0.3% conversion disorder; 0.7% somatization disorder; 13.8% undiff erentiated somatoform disorder. No specific comorbidity was found betw een somatoform disorders and mood or anxiety disorders. Although the s ample investigated was small, this study may be seen as one of the fir st in an area where knowledge is still scant. The prevalence rates of somatoform disorders were generally found to be slightly lower than ex pected.