Somatoform disorders are characterized by the presence of the following:

• Repeated presentation of physical symptoms, together with persistent requests for medical investigations, in spite of repeated negative findings and reassurances by doctors that the symptoms have no physical basis.
• If any physical disorders are present, they do not explain the nature and extent of the symptoms or the distress and preoccupation of the patient.
• The diagnosis requires the presence of the following:

(1) At least 2 years of multiple and variable physical symptoms for which no adequate physical explanation has been found

(2) Persistent refusal to accept the advice or reassurance of several doctors that there is a physical basis for the symptoms

(3) Some degree of impairment of social and family functioning attributable to the nature of the symptoms and resulting behavior.