Somatic Symptoms in Patients With Cancer Experiencing Pain or Depression

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Abstract
Somatic symptoms have been the subject of numerous studies1,2 in the general population and in primary care and specialty clinic settings. Somatic symptoms account for more than half of all general medical visits, lack a definitive medical explanation one-third to half of the time, and are frequently persistent. Physical and psychological factors seem to contribute to somatic symptom reporting, even in patients with chronic medical disorders.3,4 These symptoms are associated with substantial functional impairment, disability, and health care use, even after controlling for medical and psychiatric comorbidity.5-7