What specifier is used when somatic symptoms predominantly involve pain in Somatic Symptom Disorder?

• A. with predominant pain
• B. with persistent fatigue
• C. with predominant status
• D. with concurrent anxiety

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that Somatic Symptom Disorder uses a specifier to identify when pain is the dominant symptom driving the clinical picture. When the somatic complaints are mainly pain, the appropriate specifier is “with predominant pain.” This signals to clinicians to tailor assessment and treatment toward pain-focused strategies, such as pain coping skills, functional restoration, and therapies addressing pain-related thoughts and behaviors.

Other options don’t represent established specifiers for Somatic Symptom Disorder. Fatigue can be a symptom but isn’t a recognized specifier, “predominant status” isn’t a clinical term used as a specifier, and “with concurrent anxiety” isn’t a DSM-5 specifier for SSD, though anxiety can co-occur.