When should I consider referring a patient with somatisation disorder to a mental health specialist?

Guideline-aligned answer with reasoning, red flags and references. Clinically reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP.

Posted: 22 August 2025Updated: 22 August 2025 Guideline-Aligned (High Confidence) Clinically Reviewed
Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX

The provided guidelines do not explicitly detail when to refer a patient with somatisation disorder to a mental health specialist. However, for common mental health disorders such as panic disorder, referral to specialist mental health services should be considered if the patient still has significant symptoms after two interventions . These interventions can be any combination of psychological intervention, medication, or bibliotherapy .

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