Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of somatization disorders in students

In the past psychosomatic illnesses have been seen as the consequences of primary psychological disorders. Lacking confidence in this causal model, many prefer Engel's biopsychosocial model which refers to the circular interaction between body, soul and environment. This model is in agreement with neuropsychoimmunological theories of the body's feedback loops that include emotions and behavior [1]. Many clinicians re-frame somatization as a psychopathology and use the biopsychosocial model as a basis for directing attention to the patient's personality traits and life context. Some consider that the role of the clinician is to emphasize the links between symptoms and external stressors and how these lead to psychophysiological changes [1].