Somatoform disorders - historical development and modern diagnostic concepts

Patients with "medically unexplained" bodily symptoms form a major group in the medical care system. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems very often ar ise, and the concept of "somatization" promotes a better understanding of t his patient group. Important historical stages in the development toward a modern diagnostic classification of somatoform disorders are outlined. A cr itical comment on the diagnostic approaches according to DSM-IV and ICD-10 follows.