[Functional somatic symptoms: Clinical varieties, diagnostic challenges, therapeutic principles].

Functional somatic symptoms are common and multiform. They occur in all genders and age groups, with and without somatic or mental comorbidity. Dysfunctional illness behaviour on the patients' (e. g., excessive attention or anxiety) and also on the caregivers' side (e. g., nocebo messages, redundant investigations or risky treatments) can promote chronification. Empathy, well balanced diagnostics, comprehensible information within individual multifactorial explanatory models, refocussing, activation, and - in more severe forms - additional measures such as psychotherapy are recommended.      «

Functional somatic symptoms are common and multiform. They occur in all genders and age groups, with and without somatic or mental comorbidity. Dysfunctional illness behaviour on the patients' (e. g., excessive attention or anxiety) and also on the caregivers' side (e. g., nocebo messages, redundant investigations or risky treatments) can promote chronification. Empathy, well balanced diagnostics, comprehensible information within individual multifactorial explanatory models, refocussing, activa...     »