Except for factitious disorder and malingering, somatoform disorders share much in the approach to treatment. It is important to explain things clearly to patients so that they understand the link between the psychological distress and their physical symptoms or perceptions. Mood or anxiety disorders should be treated and polypharmacy should be minimized to avoid creating additional symptoms. It is important to help alter social dynamics to the extent possible.
Some authors have suggested that treatment can be matched to the specific mechanism of the disorder. For example, emotional arousal may be helped by pharmacology, biofeedback, stress management, and/or relaxation techniques. Attention to the body can be helped with attention training and hypnosis. And so forth.
Factitious disorder
There is not much in the way of treatment of factitious disorder as patients usually refuse it. If confronted, some patients may stop their behaviors, others merely switch health care arrangements.
Malingering
The only treatment for malingering is discharge.