ICD-11: Elimination of all problems with somatically perceived symptoms that cannot be explained?

Objective: Two new terms, "physical distress disorder" and "chronic primary pain", are intended to place greater diagnostic emphasis on the relationship between stress and physical complaints, beyond the category poles of "somatic and psychological causes of pain". Materials and methods: The description of the new terms is compared with the previous experience of the psychiatric liaison of the outpatient pain clinic of the University Hospital Magdeburg. Discussion: The present review shows that here, as in the case of the concepts of somatoform disorders, somatically unexplained pain syndromes are combined with nonspecific psychological parameters to render a diagnosis. Conclusion: Rather than inventing somatic psychological hybrids, it would be better to perform a thorough physical manual examination of the patient and note any psychological abnormalities. This could then be used to refer the patient for appropriate medication or psychotherapy.