Other Specified Somatic Symptom and Related Disorder 327
Other Specified Somatic Symptom and
Related Disorder
300.89 (F45.8)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a somatic
symptom and related disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in so-
cial, occupational, or other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the
full criteria for any of the disorders in the somatic symptom and related disorders diagnos-
tic class.
Examples of presentations that can be specified using the “other specified” designation
include the following:
1.Brief somatic symptom disorder:  Duration of symptoms is less than 6 months.
2.Brief illness anxiety disorder:  Duration of symptoms is less than 6 months.
3.Illness anxiety disorder without excessive health-related behaviors:  Criterion D
for illness anxiety disorder is not met.
4.Pseudocyesis:  A false belief of being pregnant that is associated with objective signs
and reported symptoms of pregnancy.
Unspecified Somatic Symptom and
Related Disorder
300.82 (F45.9)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a somatic
symptom and related disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in so-
cial, occupational, or other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the
full criteria for any of the disorders in the somatic symptom and related disorders diagnos-
tic class. The unspecified somatic symptom and related disorder category should not be
used unless there are decidedly unusual situations where there is insufficient information
to make a more specific diagnosis.