SOMATOFORM DISORDERS AND BODY-IMAGE - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

The study examines the body image of patients with somatoform disorder s. Body image was assessed using a body image questionnaire (FKB-20) i n patients with somatoform disorders (n = 44), patients with anxiety d isorders (n = 44), patients with depressive disorders (n = 45), patien ts with anorexia (n = 31), patients with transsexualism (n = 29) and a normal control group (n = 349). Concerning body image of patients wit h somatoform disorders, a characteristic profile was found: (I) Patien ts with somatoform disorders showed a less negative evaluation of thei r own body (e. g. body appearance) than patients with transsexualism, whereas their perception of body dynamics (e. g. power, health) was mo re disturbed. (2) Compared with anorectic patients, their body evaluat ion as well as perception of body dynamics was more positive. (3) Ther e are no differences in body evaluation or in perception of body dynam ics between patients with somatoform disorders and patients with depre ssive disorders. (4) Compared with patients with anxiety disorders, th ere is no difference in body evaluation, however a more positive perce ption of body dynamics in patients with somatoform disorders was found . Altogether, the body image of patients with somatoform disorders is similar to the body image of depressive patients, whereas it can be cl early differentiated from the body image of normal controls and patien ts with anorexia and transsexualism.