What sign is characteristic of somatic symptom disorder?

The hallmark of somatic symptom disorder is the presence of one or more physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition or other mental disorder. Individuals with this disorder experience significant distress or impairment in functioning as a result of their symptoms, which can include pain, fatigue, or gastrointestinal issues, among others. The persistent focus on these unexplained symptoms is a key characteristic of this condition, differentiating it from other psychological or medical disorders.

Frequent hospital visits might occur in individuals with somatic symptom disorder, as they seek medical care and reassurance for their physical complaints. However, this behavior is not uniquely characteristic of the disorder. Similarly, depressive episodes can be comorbid with somatic symptom disorder but are not defining features of it. Delirium episodes, on the other hand, involve acute confusion and altered consciousness and do not relate to somatic symptom disorder, as they indicate a distinct clinical syndrome generally tied to medical conditions such as infections or metabolic imbalances. Thus, the primary and defining feature of somatic symptom disorder remains the presence of unexplained physical symptoms causing significant distress.