Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

May 18, 2026

Faculty/Planner Disclosure:

The planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationship(s) with companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Faculty:

Kenleigh McMinn, PhD
BSW Psychology Program Lead
Director of Clinical Training

Level of Instruction:

Intermediate

Presentation Summary:

This presentation aims to provide an overview of Somatic Symptom and Related Disorder, which are commonly seen in medical settings but often not well understood. The presentation will focus on recent research updates regarding the complex etiologies of these disorders as well as discussing practical applications for clinical care, including differential diagnoses and evidence-based treatments. There will also be a focus on dispelling commonly held misperceptions and stigmas surrounding these disorders to empower providers and patients

Objectives:

References:

First, M. B., Yousif, L. H., Clarke, D. E., Wang, P. S., Gogtay, N., & Appelbaum, P. S. (2022). DSM-5-TR: overview of what's new and what's changed. World Psychiatry: Official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 21(2), 218–219. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20989

Hallett, M., Aybek, S., Dworetzky, B. A., McWhirter, L., Staab, J. P., & Stone, J. (2022). Functional neurological disorder: new subtypes and shared mechanisms. The Lancet. Neurology, 21(6), 537–550. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00422-1

Gutkin, M., McLean, L., Brown, R., & Kanaan, R. A. (2021). Systematic review of psychotherapy for adults with functional neurological disorder. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 92(1), 36-44.