Somatoform syndromes and disorders in a representative population sample of adolescents and young adults: prevalence, comorbidity and impairments

Objective: To present prevalence findings of DSM-IV somatoform symptoms, sy ndromes and disorders in a representative sample of adolescents and young a dults. Method: Data come from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology (E DSP) study, in which a total of 3021 respondents aged 14-24 years were asse ssed by the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results: Although specific DSM-TV somatoform disorders were relatively rare with a lifetime rate of 2.7%, a considerably higher proportion of responde nts met criteria for clinically significant somatoform syndromes as defined by the Somatic Symptom Index SSI4, 6 (lifetime: 1.7%), as well as the undi fferentiated somatoform/dissociative syndrome USDS (lifetime: 9.1%), result ing in an overall prevalence rate of 12.6%. Somatoform conditions are often comorbid with other mental disorders and were found to be associated with remarkable impairments and disabilities. Conclusion: Somatoform disorders and syndromes in young adults are frequent , impairing and often associated with the development of other mental disor ders.