Which of the following is NOT a recognized specifier for Somatic Symptom Disorder?

• A. With predominant pain; with persistent symptoms.
• B. With dissociative symptoms.
• C. With anxiety about health.
• D. With all symptoms resolved.

Answer: (B)

Somatic Symptom Disorder uses specifiers to describe the pattern and course of the somatic symptoms, helping to capture how the symptoms present. A dissociative component is not one of the formal specifiers for this disorder. If dissociative symptoms occur, they’re noted as part of the clinical picture or considered as a separate or comorbid issue, not as a named SSD specifier. The recognized specifiers describe the dominant symptom pattern or duration, such as when pain is the predominant feature or when symptoms are persistent over time. So the phrase describing dissociative symptoms isn’t a DSM-5 SSD specifier, which is why it’s the correct choice for “NOT a recognized specifier.” The other modifiers reflect patterns clinicians use to characterize SSD presentations, such as pain predominance or prolonged symptom duration, which is why they fit as valid specifiers.