Remission of somatic symptom disorder with comorbid severe major depressive disorder after treatment with electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

This report describes a patient with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) who reached complete remission after a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Somatic symptom disorder, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is characterized by somatic symptoms that are distressing or significantly disruptive in daily life, persisting for 6 months or more.1 Somatic symptom disorders often occur comorbidly with depression and anxiety, which complicates the diagnosis and management in these patients.