A sample of 143 patients, 76 meeting strict DSM-III-R criteria for
somatization disorder and 67 somatizers, was studied using Slater's index
to measure birth order position. The results showed that birth order
position was not associated with the diagnosis of somatization disorder and
that sibship position in both groups occurred by chance. Thus, although
environmental factors may influence the development of somatization
disorder, the expression of environmental influence through birth order is
unlikely.Abstract Teaser