Somatic symptom disorder
Meaning of somatic symptom disorder: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, somatic symptom disorder means a disorder of mental health characterised by one or more somatic symptoms which has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist and which meets the following criteria (derived from DSM-5-TR): A. The symptom or symptoms are distressing or result in significant disruption of daily life; and B. Excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviours related to the somatic symptoms or associated health concerns as manifested by at least 1 of the following: (i) Disproportionate and persistent thoughts about the seriousness of one's symptoms; (ii) Persistently high level of anxiety about health or symptoms; or (iii) Excessive time and energy devoted to these symptoms or health concerns; and C. Although any one somatic symptom may not be continuously present, the state of being symptomatic has persisted for at least 6 months.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 64 of 2022
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting somatic symptom disorder or death from somatic symptom disorder with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of somatic symptom disorder;
Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)experiencing a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of somatic symptom disorder;
Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)experiencing a category 1B stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of somatic symptom disorder;
Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)experiencing a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of somatic symptom disorder;
Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (5)experiencing a category 1B stressor within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of somatic symptom disorder;
Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (6)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for somatic symptom disorder;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(4) to 9(6) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 65 of 2022
2 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, somatic symptom disorder or death from somatic symptom disorder is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of somatic symptom disorder;
Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for somatic symptom disorder;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(2) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
