Somatic Symptom Disorders

Question 1

DSM 5 criteria for conversion disorder

Answer 1

• One or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function.
• Symptom incompatible with recognized neurological or medical condition.
• Symptom causes clinically significant distress
  ex. paralyses, numbness, blindness, unable to taste

Question 2

Somatic symptom and related disorders all include…

Answer 2

subjective report of a physical symptom where no organic basis can be found

Question 3

lifetime Prevalence unknown for conversion disorder but what do ford and DSM 5 predict

Answer 3

ford - 20-25%

DSM-5 - 5%

Question 4

sex bias in conversion disorder?

Answer 4

DSM 5: 1:2 or 1:3 male/female ratio

Question 5

Prototypical patient with conversion disorder…

Answer 5

= female under 45 from rural or culturally unsophisticated background

Question 6

Typical onset of conversion disorder

Answer 6

, early, mid-adulthood

Question 7

Comorbidity between conversion disorder and what other disorders

Answer 7

• Most common with Dissociative Disorders = 47%
• Anxiety Disorders (esp. Panic Disorder, GAD)
• Depressive Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder

Question 8

Psychoanalytic view of Conversion disorder

Answer 8

• defense against an anxiety provoking conflict (focus on primary gain)
• energy is detached from conflict and tranmitted into somatic loss

Question 9

according to freud what functions do symptoms of conversion disorder serve?

Answer 9

Masked expression of hidden impulse

• Punishment for forbidden impulse
• Removal from anxiety-producing situation
• Gratify dependency needs; sick role

Question 10

Behavioural view of conversion disorder

Answer 10

• focus on secondary gain (reinforcement for complaints, use of complaints to meet needs)
• Punishment of verbal expression of emotion leaves no options

Question 11

Behavioural/cognitive - communication model 1

Answer 11

-Initial innate physical expression of emotion triggers response by Mom
-Child learns verbal label to communication emotions, needs
Some do not learn well, continue to use somatic expression of emotion

Question 12

Behavioural/cognitive - communication model 2

Answer 12

• Symptom distracts individual from internal distress (anger,guilt)
• Symptom signals distress to others
• Symptoms chosen from person’s conception of illness
• explains education variation

Question 13

reasons not to study somatic disorders

Answer 13

prevalence is low

little research on etiology

Question 14

Reasons TO study somatic symptoms disorders

Answer 14

• Prevalence in clinical setting is fairly high
• long historical record
• important in development of psychological and psychiatric concepts
• demonstrates that the mind-body dualism approach is false

Question 15

DSM-5 Diagnostic criteria for somatic symptom disorder

Answer 15

• one or more symptoms that cause ditress or “significant distruption of life”
• excessive,thoughts,feelings or behaviours about somatic symptoms
• excessive anxiety about symptoms
• excessive time devoted to symptoms

Question 16

DSM 5 criteria for Illness anxiety disorder

Answer 16

• preoccupation that one has a serious illness
• no somatic complaints
• excessive health related behaviours
• at least 6 months

Question 17

what pseudocyesis

Answer 17

false belief of being pregnant - part of “other specified somatic symptoms disorders

Question 18

treatment for conversion disorder

Answer 18

• suggestion that symptoms will disapear

Question 19

Primary and secondary gain

Answer 19

Primary - escape from underlying psychological issue or anxiety provoking situation
Secondary - Love/affection and attention from others

Question 20

What is illness anxiety disorder?

Answer 20

Aka. hypochondria: preoccupation with having a serious illness - anxiety about health thus excessive health related behaviours are common (but not necessary)