Laterality in Somatization

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether there is a lateralized pattern in somatic symptoms related to emotional disturbances.

METHOD: Sixty-one patients with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and somatization disorders were examined for the lateralized distribution of somatic symptoms in the body and its relationship to the severity of anxiety and depression.

RESULTS: The chief somatic symptoms presented significantly more on the left side than on the right side of the body. Headache and other forms of pain, especially, occurred more on the left side. There was no significant difference between left-sided and right-sided groups in demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, diagnosis, and duration of illness. The scores on Hamilton's anxiety scale or Hamilton's depression scale were higher in the left-sided group than the right-sided group, although the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the right hemisphere of the brain is more involved then the left with somatization symptom formation related to emotional disturbances.