An inpatient programme for persistent somatizers.

Abstract

Somatization, defined as a transient or persistent tendency to experience and communicate psychological distress in the form of somatic symptoms and to seek medical help for them, represents a common problem in clinical practice. A comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program for somatizing patients has been developed at the Clarke Institute in Toronto and is described in detail. It involves concurrent application of psychiatric, psychological, social, and medical therapies.