CBT: A Good Choice for Treating Somatization Disorder?

October 9, 2006

Patients with somatization disorder (SD) can benefit from CBT, according to new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. 84 SD patients were randomly assigned to either standard medical care or a 10-session, individualized CBT regimen. Researchers used the CGI-SD as the primary outcome measure. 15 months after baseline the group treated with CBT demonstrated significantly less symptom severity and showed improvements in both self-reported functioning and somatic symptoms. Patients from the group receiving standard care were less likely to demonstrate clinical improvement. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/166/14/1512

- LC