Chapter 5 - Dissociative, Somatic, and Related Disorders

Question 1

what are the controversies of dissociative identity disorder?

Answer 1

• dissociative disorder is considered rare

- the existence of the disorder is debated

Question 2

why is the debate about the existence of dissociative identity disorder controversial?

Answer 2

it invalids how the person with the disorder is feeling and questions the competency of the professional who is diagnosing the disorder

Question 3

how is one’s environment altered in derealization?

Answer 3

• colours may seem washed out or very bright

- time may seem to be oddly slowed down or sped up

Question 4

what are the psychodynamic views on dissociative disorders?

Answer 4

• dissociative disorders involve the massive use of repression
• the ego protects itself from anxiety by blotting out disturbing memories or by dissociating threatening impulses of a sexual or aggressive nature

Question 5

what are the learning and cognitive views on dissociative disorders?

Answer 5

“not thinking” about these matters is negatively reinforced by relief from anxiety or removal of feelings of guilt or shame

Question 6

what does the Diathesis-Stress Model state?

Answer 6

certain individuals may be predisposed to develop dissociative disorders when exposed to severe stress caused by events such as traumatic abuse

Question 7

what is the goal of psychoanalysis in treating dissociative disorders?

Answer 7

uncovering early childhood traumas

Question 8

what is the goal of cognitive behaviour therapy in treating dissociative disorders?

Answer 8

uncovering maladaptive cognitions

Question 9

what are the controversies involved in theoretical perspectives of dissociative disorders?

Answer 9

• are recorded memories believable?
• suggestibility and probing ( false memories can be produced in experiments)
• true vs false memories ( constructive nature of normal memory)

Question 10

what are the classic symptoms of conversion disorder?

Answer 10

paralysis, epilepsy, problems in coordination, blindness and tunnel vision, loss of hearing or smell, or loss of feeling in a limb (anaesthesia)

Question 11

care-avoidant subtype of illness anxiety disorder

Answer 11

applies to people who postpone or avoid medical visits or lab tests because of high levels of anxiety about what might be discovered

Question 12

care-seeking subtype of illness anxiety disorder

Answer 12

describes people who go doctor shopping, basically jumping from doctor to doctor in the hope of finding the medical professional to confirm their fears

Question 13

what is the age of onset of somatic symptom disorder?

Answer 13

adolescence or young adulthood

Question 14

what is the prevalence of somatic symptom disorder?

Answer 14

5-7% of the population

Question 15

what are the characteristics of Munchausen syndrome (factitious disorder on self)?

Answer 15

• person fakes being ill or makes themselves ill
• people usually suffer deep anguish as they bounce from hospital to hospital and subject themselves to unnecessary, painful, and sometimes risky medical treatments and surgery

Question 16

what are the characteristics of Munchausen by proxy syndrome (factitious disorder imposed on another)?

Answer 16

• often a parent who feigns or induces illness in a child
• can be associated with severe and sometimes deadly child abuse
• represents an extreme need for nurturance or attention

Question 17

what is the perspective of psychodynamic theory on somatic and related disorders?

Answer 17

hysteria: there are underlying psychological needs that are not being met

Question 18

what does learning theory say about somatic and related disorders?

Answer 18

direct reinforcing properties of the symptom