Somatization. Concepts, data, and predictions from the high risk model of threat perception.

Eighty-three consecutive patients with chronic somatic complaints seen prior to therapy were tested on the eight factors of the High Risk Model of Threat Perception. Thirty-two percent were high and 28% were low on hypnotic ability, which is more highs and lows than would be expected in a normal population. In the high and low hypnotic ability somatizers, the distribution of somatic and psychological symptoms is significantly different from the moderate group. Counterintuitively, hypnotic ability and major life change were orthogonal to all of the other risk factors. These findings are consistent with eight of nine predictions from the High Risk Model of Threat Perception.