14th May 2024

A 45-year-old woman presents with a four-year history of various physical symptoms including abdominal pain, headaches, and joint pain.

A 45-year-old woman presents with a four-year history of various physical symptoms including abdominal pain, headaches, and joint pain. Extensive medical investigations have not identified any physical cause for her symptoms. She expresses frustration over the lack of diagnosis and is insistent that her symptoms are not imaginary.

Which factor is most likely underlying her presentation?