Which of the following is NOT a behavioral feature of somatic symptom disorder?

Prepare for the Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders Test with multiple choice questions and detailed answer explanations. Enhance your understanding and get exam-ready!

Somatic symptom disorder is driven by a preoccupation with somatic symptoms and behaviors aimed at reducing distress from those symptoms. Regular engagement in physical activity is a healthy, non-pathologic behavior and does not reflect the disorder’s pattern. In somatic symptom disorder, people typically monitor their bodies for signs of illness (bodily checking) and repeatedly seek medical evaluation and reassurance from clinicians. While avoidance of activity can occur in some cases due to fear of symptom flare-ups, the hallmark behavioral pattern is not regular, healthy exercise but rather symptom-focused monitoring and medical reassurance seeking.