Page 21 - JCBP-3-1

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Somatic symptom disorder etiology

and preventing ACh from providing pain relief), but to Consent for publication
be effective, it must be a high dose. Unfortunately, high
doses come with dangerous side effects, such as respiratory Not applicable.
failure. Finally, research indicates that when combined Availability of data
102
with opioid drugs, nAChR agonists increase pain relief, 100,131
which is useful for patients who use opioids to manage Not applicable.
pain, but must carefully avoid addiction and overdose. In
contrast, nAChR agonists are not known to be addictive, so References
they should be explored more thoroughly. 130 1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders. 5 ed. Arlington, VA: American
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Finally, as mentioned earlier in this review, Zohar et al.’s Psychiatric Publishing; 2022.
study provides hope that traumatic amnesia and SSD
61
could be prevented altogether. In the same way that high doi: 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
doses of glucocorticoids have successfully prevented PTSD; 2. Eilers H, Aan Het Rot M, Jeronimus BF. Childhood trauma and
traumatic amnesia and some SSD should be preventable adult somatic symptoms. Psychosom Med. 2023;85:408-416.
by reducing glucocorticoids within 72 h post-trauma. It is doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000001208
concerning that little discussion of Zohar et al.’s study, or
widespread implementation of their results, has occurred 3. Löwe B, Toussaint A, Rosmalen JG, et al. Persistent physical
symptoms: Definition, genesis, and management. Lancet.
in the past 10 years. Another candidate for trauma 2024;403(10444):2649-2662.
intervention is neuropeptide Y, which calms the SNS and
prevents PTSD, providing yet more validation of the link doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00623-8
between memory and somatization. Neuropeptide Y has 4. Fink P, Schröder A. One single diagnosis, bodily distress
three benefits: (i) it can be taken nasally; (ii) it is safe at fairly syndrome, succeeded to capture 10 diagnostic categories of
high doses; and (iii) it prevents PTSD even if administered functional somatic syndromes and somatoform disorders.
1 week after trauma exposure. We must take advantage J Psychosom Res. 2011;68(5):415-426.
132
of this current knowledge to offer victims of trauma to doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.02.004
measure and regulate their cortisol output, up- or down-
regulate glucocorticoids, or possibly take neuropeptide 5. Hiller W, Heuser J, Fichter MM. The DSM-IV nosology of
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It is recommended that human trials continue until FDA
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possible, pharmacological interventions with SSD and FSD 6. Kanaan RAA, Lepine JP, Wessely SC. The association or
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antagonists, and anti-adrenergic beta blockers. Med. 2007;69:855-859.

Acknowledgments doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31815b001a
7. van der Kolk BA. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and
The author thanks Joe Bush, Nnamdi Pole, Margaret Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York: Penguin Books; 2014.
Cramer, James Levenson, and Tiffany Field who read
earlier versions of this work and provided helpful support, 8. Bovin MJ, Marx B. The importance of the peritraumatic
experience in defining traumatic stress. Psychol Bull.
comments, and criticism.
2011;137(1):47-67.
Funding doi: 10.1037/a0021353
None. 9. Foa EB, Zinbarg R, Rothbaum BO. Uncontrollability and
unpredictability in post-traumatic stress disorder: An
Conflict of interest animal model. Psychol Bull. 1992;112:218-238.
The author declares no conflicts of interest. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.112.2.218
10. Olff M, Langeland W, Gersons BPR. Effects of appraisal and
Author contributions coping on the neuroendocrine response to extreme stress.
This is a single-authored article. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2005;29:457-467.
doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2004.12.006
Ethics approval and consent to participate
11. Mayer EA, Bushnell MC. Synthesis. In: Mayer EA,
Not applicable. Bushnell MC, editors. Functional Pain Syndromes:

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