Chap 5: Somatic symptom and dissociative disorders Flashcards
Who introduced somatic symptom and related disorders? Give date and brief explanation of how it was identified
Introduced by Pierre Briquet (hysteria or Briquet syndrome) 1859 - somatic complaints with no physical cause, often also depressed/experienced large life event
Current definition of somatic symptom and related disorders? What are the 4 disorders under this umbrella?
What are the 3 key elements of this disorder? What is the prevalence?
Conditions in which physical symptoms or concerns about an illness cannot be explained by a medical or psychological disorder
Umbrella:
- Somatic symptom disorder
- Conversion disorder
- Illness anxiety disorder
- Factitious disorder
Key elements
- Physical symptoms suggestive of medical illness
- Significant psychological distress
- Functional impairment
Less than 1% in primary care settings
Define conversion disorder? What are the 3 groups of symptoms?
Define glove anesthesia and la belle indifference
Physically healthy people experience loss of functioning in part of the body with no neurological causes
Symptoms:
- Motor deficits
- Sensory deficits
- Seizures and convulsions
Glove: loss of sensitivity in the hand in the wrist, does not follow physical anatomy as nerves do not end at the wrist
La belle indifference: emotional indifference/undisturbed by severe physical symptoms
Define malingering? What makes it different from conversion disorder? Is it a mental illness?
A conditions in which physical symptoms are produced intentionally for material reward or external incentive - used to gain something (money) or avoid something (work) or seek attention in clinical/therapeutic settings
Differences: voluntary control, do not exhibit belle indifference, do not adhere to treatment plans well and stop showing symptoms when rewards stop
No, not according to DSM-5
Define illness anxiety disorder (Hypochondriasis)? What are the two types and the common behavioral symptoms?
Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness
2 types:
- Care seekers (desperate for care because afraid of illness)
- Care avoiders (avoid care because afraid of illness)
Behavioral symptoms:
- Reassurance seeking from medical professionals
- Researching medical information
- Voicing health concerns
- Avoiding
What is factitious disorder (Munchausen)? What are the two types?
What are the facts around children and this disorder? What behaviors may cause a Dr. to suspect this disorder?
Physical or psychological signs of symptoms of illness are intentionally produced in what appears to be a desire to assume sick role
Two types:
- Imposed on the self
- Imposed on another
Suspect: patient is caught lying, has medical history that does not make sense, illness does not follow usual course, is hesitant to answer questions about illness
What are the facts around children and Munchausen?
Children
- Child victims are most common
- Have as many as 19 illnesses and an average of 3
- 6-22% will die as a result of illness
- Over 7% left with long -term/permanent injury
What is the onset, prevalence, risk factors, comorbidity and prognosis for somatic symptoms related disorders?
Onset: early to mid-adulthood
Prevalence: largely unknown, range from <1% to 10%
Risk factors:
- environment (stress, abuse, trauma, family problems)
- race/ethnicity/SES
- more common in women
- more common in adulthood
Comorbidity: other medical disorders, anxiety and depressive disorder
Prognosis: chronic with low rates of recovery
What are the biological explanations of the etiology of somatic symptom and related disorder?
Twin studies: moderate heritability of disorders
Bio vulnerability: sensitivity to pain
Structural or functional abnormalities
- Anatomical differences
- Right hemisphere functioning
- Neurological circuitry - stimulating numb hand/foot did not result in somatosensory region
Little support for genetic etiology
What are the psychological explanations of the etiology of somatic symptom and related disorder?
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Cognitive
What are the psychological - psychodynamic and behavioral explanations of the etiology of somatic symptom and related disorder?
Psychodynamic theories
- Unconscious conflict and traumatic emotional experiences
- Factitious disorders caused by
- Attempt to gain control
- Form of masochism
- Deprived childhood
- Attempt to deal with trauma
Behavioral theories
- Operant conditioning - Learning
What are the psychological - cognitive explanations of the etiology of somatic symptom and related disorder?
Inaccurate beliefs (faulty cognitive interpretations) about
- prevalence of illness
- meaning of symptoms
- course and treatment of illness
Distorted cognitions
- somatic amplification
What is the cognitive model of health anxiety (four contributing factors)?
- Critical precipitating incidence
- Previous experience with illness and related medical factors
- Presence of inflexible or negative cognitive assumptions
Severity of anxiety
What are the biological approaches to treatment for somatic symptom and related disorder?
Medications: antidepressants, antipsychotics (few trials conducted, but seem to be effective in short term)
What are the psychological approaches to treatment for somatic symptom and related disorder?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - general focused on discouraging clients from seeking medical assurance/pointing out areas of physical focus
Symptom focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - basic education of mind body connection when it comes to symptoms, teaching patient to cope with symptoms (ex: diverting attention, coping strategies)
Exposure therapy
Short-term psychotherapy