The Notion of Somatization: an Artefact of the Conceptualization of Body and Mind

Background: Somatization is a contemporary notion which derives from the conceptualization of body and mind and the resultant concept of disease. The common element in this thinking is that the presumed separation of the concepts body and mind can be spanned by clinical symptoms.

Methods: This paper examines the history of these concepts and the assumptions underlying them.

Results: It is shown that the debate on the pathological regions of the body-mind relation is of early origin. It is reflected in the evolution of concepts of disease and disease entities. The ongoing attempts to form a conceptual synthesis have resulted in a multiplicity of disease entities and in the notion of somatization. However, somatization is shown here to differ conceptually from controversial contemporary disease entities with which it often seems intertwined, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis and the hypersensitivity syndrome.

Conclusion: This insight may help diminish the ambiguity in this area of research and practice.