Somatization disorder in a community population

The data recently collected in the Piedmont region of North Carolina as part of the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program were used to examine somatization disorder in a community population. The authors found an adjusted prevalence of 0.38% for somatization disorder diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and DSM-III. Respondents with somatization disorder demonstrated demographic characteristics (female, unmarried, nonwhite, from a rural area, less educated) that are consistent with findings from past clinical and epidemiologic studies of somatization disorder. The adjusted prevalence is higher than that of other Epidemiologic Catchment Area sites, and possible explanations for this findings are discussed.