Disorders featuring somatic symptoms Flashcards
factitious disorder
intentionally feigning illness for some external gain
willing to undergo serious surgery etc
especially for ppl who worked in med field, recieved extensive treatment as child, or hold grudge against field
can turn into fake illnesses for loved ones (proxy)
unclear what cause is, or what treatment should be
conversion disorder
display physical/motor sympmtoms, but theyre inconsistent w medical knowledge
not intentional
hard to distinguish
poorly understood
somatic symptom disorder
become very distressed about body symptoms theyre experiencing
disproportionate to symptoms
may be in somatization pattern- many diff long lasting ailments
or predominant pain pattern
poorly understood
psychodynamic view of somatic disorders
unresolved conflicts from childhood emerge as adults as anxiety, becomes more managable anxiety about physical symptoms
- primary gain: physical symptoms keep internal out of awareness
- secondary: bodily symptoms allow them to avoid anxious activities/garner sympathy
behavioral view of somatic disorders
the somatic symptoms provide rewards (attention etc)
cognitive view of somatic disorders
provides communication; emotions converted into physical symptonms
multicultural view of somatic disorders
it’s western biias to see it as disorder, many other countries norm is to transform emotion into physical
treatment of somatic disorders
patients often reluctat to do therapy
may use drugs, or try to work out underlying cause, exposure to event that caused symptoms,
take away social reward
illness anxiety disorder
no somatic symptoms, but strong belief in medical prob
what is a psychophysiological disorder
physical illnesses made worse by psychological stuff and environment
-eg: ulcers, insomnia, coronary heart disease, hypertension, migraines
hispanic health paradox
despite poverty/racism, hispanics in US healthier than whites or blacks (who are less healthy than whites)
physical illnesses and stress
greater the stress, greater the likelihood of illness
psychoneuroimmunology
finding links between stress, immune system, and health
stress affects efficacy of lymphocytes (white blood cells)
biochemical causes of stress induced illness
high levels of norepinephrine and corticosteroids for extended pd of time contribute to slowdown of immune system, and also create cytokines which at first help immune system but after awhile chronic inflammation
personality style and stress induced illness
ppl who embrace change readily and resilient personalities, and more spiritual, and more social support, tend to be better immune system
