Although there is no treatment that can cure somatoform disorder, but this mental disorder can be managed. There are several kinds of treatments that aim to control the physical symptoms faced by patients, so they can live as normally as possible. But somatoform disorder can not shorten the life of a person, unless the patient experienced drug abuse or suicide.

Each type of somatoform disorders has special treatment. For example, somatoform pain disorder involve any treatment is a multidisciplinary science such as neurologists, internists, and anaesthesiologists in addition to psychiatrists. This is done to treat pain faced by patients, especially in hospitalized patients. But in general, treatment for somatoform disorders consists of several types of treatment that should be combined with each other.

Treatment for somatoform disorders should be done regularly. Family involvement in supporting this treatment is very large, because patients suffering from somatoform disorder often feel desperate for treatment that usually lasts for a long time. Psychological factors take a leading role in this treatment, for it then psychiatry guidance is needed.

Depression and prolonged stress is a major risk in the treatment, as well as drug abuse problems that occur in patients with somatization vulnerable. But the drug has a considerable contribution in the treatment for somatoform disorders.

Treatment for somatoform is using the concept of combining psychotherapy and medical treatment (pharmacotherapy). The concept of this treatment emphasizes the relationship between mind and body in the formation of symptoms and disorders. This combination requires a wide range of science and medical professions.

Combination therapy is an approach in which doctors handle psychiatric aspects, while a specialist in internal medicine or other specialist to handle somatic aspects. Treatment of these two perspectives is important, given that patients not only in terms of physical pain but also mental.

Psychotherapy can be an Adlerian Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Existential Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and People-cantered therapy, psychoanalytic, rational-emotive Therapy, Reality Therapy, and Transactional Analysis.

In addition to explaining the relationship between physical symptoms with stress or depression can be used psychoeducation. Hypnosis can also improve mental condition by controlling the conditions of stress and also depression. Relaxation, biofeedback and stress management is helpful in reducing emotional arousal and body.

The use of drugs as treatment for somatoform disorder is also different for each type. The use of these drugs can not completely eliminate the physical symptoms, but the use of drugs can be used to control the physical symptoms faced by patients.

Several types of medications used are antidepressants. These drugs can alleviate somatization disorder, showed a decrease of physical symptoms, increase activity levels and lower levels of anxiety and depression at the end of treatment.

Here are the lists of special treatment for each types of somatoform disorder:

somatization disorder treatment
Hypochondria Disorder
Conversion Disorder
Somatoform Pain Disorder
body dysmorphic disorder

or if you want to see list of the therapy as one of somatoform disorder treatment, see Therapy As Somatoform Disorder Treatment