The data recently collected in the Piedmont region of North Carolina as
part of the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment
Area Program were used to examine somatization disorder in a community
population. The authors found an adjusted prevalence of 0.38% for
somatization disorder diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Interview
Schedule and DSM-III. Respondents with somatization disorder demonstrated
demographic characteristics (female, unmarried, nonwhite, from a rural
area, less educated) that are consistent with findings from past clinical
and epidemiologic studies of somatization disorder. The adjusted prevalence
is higher than that of other Epidemiologic Catchment Area sites, and
possible explanations for this findings are discussed.Abstract Teaser