Somatization disorders in central and western Asia

Abstract Somatization is one of the psychiatric disorders that is the most influenced by culture, occurring more commonly in more traditional societies in central and western Asia than in Europe. To understand the reasons behind such high somatization prevalence rate in this part of the world, factors such as the meaning of disease symptoms, upbringing styles, gender roles, divorce, stigma associated with psychiatric disorders, symbolic language, trauma, and migration that affect somatization in the culture in which patients are raised need to be taken into consideration. It is likely that the physical complaints in somatization have a communicative function peculiar to particular societies that goes beyond the standard meanings attributable to body language. They may also be a silent cry for help, a reflection of traumas, a sign of a need for support, and sometimes an expression of difficulty in adapting to a new environment.