Other Specified Somatic Symptom and Related Disorder

  • Symptoms characteristic of a somatic symptom and related disorder cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the somatic symptom and related disorders diagnostic class.


  • Examples of presentations that can be specified using the “other specified” designation include the following:

  1. Brief somatic symptom disorder: Duration of symptoms is less than 6 months.

  2. Brief illness anxiety disorder: Duration of symptoms is less than 6 months.

  3. Illness anxiety disorder without excessive health-related behaviors.

  4. Pseudocyesis: A false belief of being pregnant that is associated with objective signs and reported symptoms of pregnancy.