What are somatoform disorders characterized by?

Somatoform disorders are characterized by the presence of bodily symptoms that cannot be adequately explained by a medical condition or physiological basis. Individuals with somatoform disorders may experience pain, fatigue, or dysfunction in various parts of their body, but medical evaluations do not provide a clear physical explanation for these symptoms. This condition emphasizes the interplay between psychological and physical health, where emotional distress is manifested as physical symptoms.

The other options focus on different aspects of mental health conditions. Excessive anxiety about health pertains to health anxiety or hypochondriasis, which is related but distinct from somatoform disorders. Psychotic symptoms and hallucinations are characteristics of severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, while substance abuse effects relate to the physical and psychological impacts from using drugs, neither of which accurately describe the nature of somatoform disorders. Thus, the correct answer encapsulates the core feature of somatoform disorders, highlighting their defining characteristic of unexplained bodily symptoms.