The functional somatic symptom.

The functional somatic symptom is a disorder that is prevalent in diverse patient populations. It is a heterogeneous disorder composed of a number of separate but often overlapping psychiatric disorders. The consultation-liaison psychiatrist is often consulted by his or her physician colleagues for help in the diagnosis and treatment of this difficult group of patients. This requires an understanding of the different dynamic formulations available to explain these disorders and a treatment strategy that emphasizes a collaborative approach to the long-term management of these patients.