Final answer:
Somatic symptom disorders were initially known as Hypochondriasis, which emphasizes excessive concern and anxiety about physical symptoms and health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Somatic symptom disorders were originally known as a) Hypochondriasis. These disorders are characterized by excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to physical symptoms, which can cause significant distress and problems functioning. In contrast to other mental disorders such as Anxiety disorders, Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), and Conversion disorders, somatic symptom disorders focus specifically on the presence of physical symptoms combined with excessive concern about health or fear of illness. It's important to differentiate between these conditions, as they each have unique symptoms and treatment approaches, reflected in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) used by mental health professionals.