Table 3.
Assessment of biopsychosocial factors
| Factors | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genetic | Family history of somatization |
| 2 | Early life events | Childhood adversities such as separation from mother, abuse or maltreatment, neglect, insecure attachment |
| 3 | Recent life events | Major life events in the past year |
| 4 | Chronic daily life stress | This includes feeling pressured at work, feeling “tensed,” frequent arguments with family members |
| 5 | Coping | Not able to handle everyday demands of life |
| 6 | Unhealthy lifestyle | Lack of exercise, substance use, irregular sleep pattern |
| 7 | Personality factors | Presence of alexithymia, Type A behavior, coping styles |
| 8 | Support system | Lack of social support (emotional or instrumental), Employment status, Financial condition |
| 9 | Comorbid medical or psychiatric disorders | Long-standing medical illnesses, substance use, other psychiatric comorbidities |
| 10 | Cultural factors | Higher somatizing tendencies |