A person is diagnosed with “other specified somatic symptom and related disorder” if the individual has somatic type symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning but the symptoms do not meet the full criteria for any of the other somatic symptom and related disorders (e.g., illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder, factitious disorder).

Examples of situations where this “other specified” diagnosis may be used include:

• Brief somatic symptom disorder, with symptoms lasting less than 6 months.
• Brief illness anxiety disorder, with symptoms lasting less than 6 months.
• Illness anxiety disorder without excessive health-related behaviors.
• Pseudocyesis – a false belief of being pregnant that is associated with objective signs and reported symptoms or pregnancy.

What is the diagnosis for Unspecified Somatic Symptom and Related Disorder?

The diagnosis of “other specified somatic symptom and related disorder” may be used if an individual has somatic type symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning but the symptoms do not meet the full criteria for any of the other somatic symptom and related disorders (e.g., illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder, factitious disorder). This diagnosis is used only in unusual situations where there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis.