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While I greatly enjoyed the recently published thoughtful analysis of somatization in the ARCHIVES by Epstein et al,¹ I have 3 distinct concerns about their proposals. The first is that they stigmatize as pejorative such labels as "amplifying" when, in fact, they are useful in establishing individualized therapeutic strategies and goals. For example, in my practice of adult rheumatology, most patients with rheumatoid arthritis rate their average pain between 4 and 6 on a 0- to 10-point verbal analog scale. Some, however, report pain levels of 8 or greater even when their disease appears mild by criteria such as the number of tender or swollen joints or acute-phase reactants. Effective analgesia may be a greater priority for these "pain amplifying" patients than "control of their disease." I realize that their pain report is higher than expected without having to affix a label, but my colleagues in primary care may not. . . . [Full Text of this Article]