FOLLOW-UP-STUDY COMPARING SOMATIZATION AND CONVERSION DISORDERS

The purpose of this study was to compare groups of patients meeting di agnostic criteria both by chart review and on follow-up evaluation 4 t o 6 years later for either somatization or conversion disorder. The co mparison looks at differences that are not reflected in differences in diagnostic criteria. Of 70 patients who were assigned these diagnoses according to chart review and located for a follow-up interview, 51 h ad a stable diagnosis. It is evident that the 29 somatization disorder patients have more psychiatric complaints than the 22 conversion diso rder patients. This is particularly true for anxiety and affective sym ptoms. However, the somatization disorder patients do not perceive the mselves as being worse mentally. Furthermore, despite complaints among the somatization disorder patients of worse social and role functioni ng, there is no difference in work impairment or social relations comp ared with the conversion disorder patients.