| somatization | The process by which psychological needs are expressed in physical symptoms; e.g., the expression or conversion into physical symtoms of anxiety, or a wish for material gain associated with a legal action following and injury, or a related psychological need. See: somatization disorder. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| somatization disorder | A mental disorder characterised by presentation of a complicated medical history and of physical symptoms referring to a variety of organ systems, but without a detectable or known organic basis. See: conversion, hysteria. (05 Mar 2000) |