SOMATOFORM DISORDERS - PERSONALITY AND THE SOCIAL MATRIX OF SOMATIC DISTRESS

Personality traits that may contribute to somatization are reviewed. N egative affectivity is associated with high levels of both somatic and emotional distress. Agreeableness and conscientiousness may influence interactions with health care providers that lead to the failure of m edical reassurance to reduce distress. Absorption may make individuals more liable to focus attention on symptoms and more vulnerable to sug gestions that induce illness anxiety. More proximate influences on the selective amplification of somatic symptoms include repressive style, somatic attributional style, and alexithymia; however, data in suppor t of these factors are scant. Most research on somatoform disorders co nfounds mechanisms of symptom production with factors that influence h elp seeking. Longitudinal community studies are needed to explore the interactions of personality with illness experience and the stigmatiza tion of medically unexplained symptoms.