Chapter 13

Question 1

What is Somatic Symptom Disorder characterized by?

Answer 1

Characterized by 6 or more months of a general and nondelusional preoccupation with fear of having, or the idea that one has a serious disease based on the person misinterpretation of bodily symptoms.

Question 2

What is the Epidemiology of Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Answer 2

Man and Women are equal.
Symptoms can occur at any age.
Commonly appear at the age of 20 to 30 years.
More common among blacks than whites.
Social position, education level, gender, and martial statues don’t appear to matter.
3% of the medical students report such a disorder within 2 years.

Question 3

What is the Etiology of Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Answer 3

People with the disorder may amplify the somatic sensations.
Have low thresholds for and low tolerance of physical discomfort.

Example: A person normally perceives as abdominal pressure with somatic symptom disorder experience as abdominal pain.

Question 4

True or False? A patient with Somatic Symptom Disorder may over amplify the symptoms in order to escape from an unwanted situation?

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What is the course and prognosis of Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Answer 5

Episodic can come and go from months to a year.

Question 6

What are the treatments for Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Answer 6

Often can refuse psychiatric treatment unless in hospital.
Focus on stress reduction and education on coping with chronic illness.
Group psychotherapy - improve social support, the social interaction that reduces anxiety.
Psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and hypnosis.

Question 7

There are two two types of symptom patterns seen in patient with SSD. What are they?

Answer 7

The autonomic nervous system (cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and dermatological)
Sensations of fatigue or weakness. (Mental/physical fatigue, physical weakness, and exhaustion)