Somatoform disorders are a set of psychological conditions where a person experiences bodily symptoms that cannot be accounted for by a medical or neurological diagnosis. Symptoms can range in severity from mild and infrequent to chronic and severe and are out of the individual's conscious control. Somatoform disorders are characterized by excessive focus on physical ailments, such as pain or tiredness. These physical symptoms cause an individual extreme mental distress and significant impairment in everyday functioning. A person with a somatoform disorder will constantly obsess over their symptoms while frantically searching for a plausible explanation for them. Causes • It is not precisely clear what causes somatoform disorders, but it is believed that there are several contributing factors. • Genetic and hereditary factors, such as hypersensitivity to pain sensations, may be involved. Family influences can be another contributing factor. • An individual who possesses a personality trait of negativity can influence how illness and physical symptoms are perceived. • Â Increased attention to bodily symptoms and sensations when a person has difficulty identifying, discussing or processing emotions is often involved. • In other cases, a somatoform disorder may develop in a subconscious effort to garner extra attention because of their perceived illness. Symptoms Somatoform disorder symptoms cannot be explained by a concrete medical or neurological cause or condition. They may range from mild to severe and can present as single or multiple symptoms. Pain is the most frequent symptom experienced in somatoform disorders and is usually accompanied by pervasive thoughts, emotions and actions related to the pain. These beliefs, feelings and behaviors can be debilitating and disruptive to normal functioning. Thoughts, emotions and behaviors associated with somatoform disorders may consist of the following: • Persistent worry about possible sickness.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental ailment characterised by recurrent unpleasant thoughts or feelings (obsessions) or the need to repeat a behaviour (compulsions). Obsessions and compulsions can coexist in some persons. Many people with OCD are aware that their thoughts and behaviours are illogical. They do things not because they enjoy them, but because they are unable to stop. If they quit, they get so depressed that they begin again. Obsessive thoughts can include the following: • Concerns about yourself or others being hurt • Blinking, breathing, or other body sensations are constantly observed. • Suspicion of infidelity in a partner with no reason to believe it Compulsive behaviours can include: • Performing things in a precise order or a certain "acceptable" number of times • Counting items, such as steps or bottles • Fear of shaking hands, touching doorknobs, or using public restrooms. Causes Certain causes or events may enhance a person's risk of acquiring OCD or trigger an episode of the disorder: • Moving, getting married or divorced, or starting a new school or work are all examples of changes in living situations. • A loved one's death or another emotional trauma • Abuse in the past. • Illness (if you get the flu, for example, you may start a cycle of obsessing about germs and washing compulsively). • Low amounts of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps maintain mental equilibrium. • Overactivity in certain parts of the brain. • Workplace or school issues • An vital relationship is having issues

Personality is the way of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes a person different from other people. An individual’s personality is influenced by experiences, environment (surroundings, life situations) and inherited characteristics. A person’s personality typically stays the same over time. A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time. A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder in which you have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. A person with a personality disorder has trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people. This causes significant problems and limitations in relationships, social activities, work and school. Without treatment, personality disorders can be long-lasting. Causes • Heredity/ genes • Environmental factors • Chemical imbalances in brain functioning Symptoms They should also cause significant distress and impairment in at least two of the following areas: • Way of perceiving or interpretingthemselves and other people • Way they act when dealing with other people • The appropriateness of their emotional responses • Their control over their impulses and actionsÂ