The word somatic comes from the word “soma,” which refers to the body or physique. Unlike any other disorder, somatic symptom disorder basically emerges when people worry excessively about their physical symptoms, which leads people to become very stressed. Psychologists believe that anxiety is the fundamental cause of the disorder. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Somatic symptoms are actually a new category in the DSM-5. Those who have a somatic disorder experience physical symptoms that lead them to think about or become anxious about a symptom if there may be nothing wrong with the body. Scientific surveys show that approximately 20-50% of somatic symptoms cause people to seek medication or see a doctor for consultation and potentially a diagnosis. As a result, people stop being anxious when they know that there is nothing wrong with them. Interestingly, this disorder is not as rare as one might believe. Finally, for people suffering from somatic disorders, cognitive-behavioral treatments are recommended because they help patients relax and reduce the level of anxiety regarding symptoms. Illness anxiety disorder is related to somatic symptom disorder because the existence of excessive anxiety is central to the development of somatic disorders. both disorders, but there are still slight differences. Before clarifying what the differences are between these two disorders, let's first see what illness anxiety disorder is. Individuals who are afflicted with symptoms of illness anxiety are highly anxious about having or contracting a serious illness; these feelings can bring great physical discomfort or disturb one's routine. The DSM-5 specifies basic criteria for people suffering from this anxiety disorder: worrying about having or acquiring a serious illness, having a high level of anxiety about one's health, repeatedly and usually without cause, controlling the own body to detect signs of illness (health-related behavior) or avoid going to hospital. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, while the differences between somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety are quite bizarre, the two are clearly characterized by their own symptoms and problems. Somatic symptom disorder is considered the culprit if somatic symptoms appear, but illness anxiety disorder is to blame for people who are very anxious about their health problems even without the presence of somatic symptoms.