symptoms. However, depressive disorders ar e differentiated from somatic symptom dis-
order by the core depressive symptoms of  low (dysphoric) mo od and anhedonia. 
Illness anxiety disorder. If the individual has extensive worries about health but no or
minimal somatic symptoms, it ma y be more appropriate to consider illness anxiety disorder.
Conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder). In conversion disor-
der, the presenting symptom is loss of function  (e.g., of a limb), whereas in somatic symp-
tom disorder, the focus is on the distress th at particular symptoms  cause. The features
listed under Criterion B of somatic symptom diso rder may be helpful in differentiating the
two disorders.
Delusional disorder. In somatic symptom disorder, the in dividual’s beliefs that somatic
symptoms might reflect serious underlying phy sical illness are not held with delusional
intensity. Nonetheless, the in dividual’s beliefs concerning the somatic symptoms can be
firmly held. In contrast, in delusional disorder, somatic subtype, the somatic symptom be-
liefs and behavior are stronger than th ose found in somatic symptom disorder. 
Body dysmorphic disorder. In body dysmorphic disorder, the individual is excessively
concerned about, and preoccupied by, a perceived defect in his or her physical features. In
contrast, in somatic symptom disorder, the co ncern about somatic symptoms reflects fear
of underlying illness, not of  a defect in appearance.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder. In somatic symptom disorder , the recurrent ideas about
somatic symptoms or illness are less intrusive, and individuals with this disorder do not
exhibit the associated repetiti ve behaviors aimed at reducing  anxiety that occur in obses-
sive-compulsive disorder.
Comorbidity