Epidemiologia dei disturbi somatoformi

The relevant issues and results emerging in international surveys about somatoform disorders were reviewed, focusing on the need for care at the different stage of care process (Psychiatric setting, General Practice and Primary Care, General Community). Two studies carried out by our research group in the General Community and in a large sample of attenders of 50 Italian psychiatric centers were compared with the current literature. The paper highlighted a large variability of the cross cultural data on prevalence rate and risk factors generated by cultural and ethnic determinants although methodological difficulties were found in using structured diagnostic tools in particular in developing countries. Our data, according to the developed countries researches, confirmed the relevance of somatisation in the General Community and supported a low accessibility of psychiatric facilities for patients suffering of somatoform disorders.