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Somatic symptom and related disorders
Somatic symptom disorder
The person has real physical symptoms (pain, tiredness, digestive discomfort) and lives with a lot of distress and worry about them, which ends up taking over much of their life.
Common signs
- Persistent physical symptoms
- Intense worry about how serious they are
- A lot of time and energy spent on health
- Associated emotional distress
Having some of these signs doesn't mean you have the disorder: only a professional can make a diagnosis.
Why does it happen?
An interaction between the body, stress and the way sensations are interpreted.
How is it diagnosed?
Psychological assessment coordinated with medical care.
Treatment
Psychotherapy to manage the distress, reduce worry and get back to activities.
We're here for you at Clínica Vivaldi
Registered psychologists at Calle Chiva 25 (Valencia) and online across Spain. First appointment with no waiting list; we work with psychiatry and nutrition when needed.
Educational content based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment. Reviewed by the Clínica Vivaldi team, November 2026.