Significant weight loss related to Briquet syndrome: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

Somatization Disorder is more prevalent in females and is historically known as Briquet Syndrome. It is characterized by complaints in several systems, has early onset and chronic fluctuating course, but without organic substrate. When the duration of symptoms is less than two years or they are less obvious, it is called Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder.

Objectives

This study reports the case of a female patient, previously healthy and with no psychiatric history, which abruptly presented lush somatic symptoms without organic origin.

Case Presentation

Case report of a previously healthy woman of 32 years, followed up for 14 months, by a sudden onset frame of profuse diarrhea, tenesmus, fecal incontinence, vomiting, anorexia and weight loss (18 kilos in 2 months), associated with headache and autonomic signs of anxious origin, without clear physical and/or psychogenic trigger. She had only a mild response to drug therapy and excellent improvement in symptoms after psychotherapy.

Results

Unconscious triggers came to light only after psychotherapy starts, justifying that the magnitude of autonomic somatoform symptoms surpasses the time period established by ICD-10 for Somatization Disorder. Therefore, the rapid resolution did not allow a diagnosis of Somatization Disorder, according to ICD-10. So, it was diagnosed as Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder.

Conclusion

It is suggested that the grandeur of clinical symptoms in this case is caused by psychogenic factors.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.