Somatization disorder from a cognitive-psychobiological perspective

This overview describes somatization disorder from a cognitive-psychobiolog ical perspective. For each step of this model, recently published empirical evidence is cited. Elements such as focused attention, catastrophizing cog nitions, emotional dysregulation, psychophysiological over-arousal and avoi dance behaviour are contained in this model. The empirical approach not onl y clarifies some underlying processes, but is also of help for future devel opment of the classification of unexplained physical symptoms. Curr Opin Ps ychiatry 12:733-738. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.