dissociative, somatic symptom, and related disorders

Question 1

characterization of dissociative disorders

Answer 1

disruption or dissociation of identity, memory, or consciousness
often triggered by traumatic events
similar to stress disorders, but no sleep issues, arousal symptoms, or negative emotions
people must develop insight about disorder - not aware of symptoms typically

Question 2

dissociative identity disorder

Answer 2

2 or more distinct personalities (host & alters)
culture bound or real?
not considered a break from reality

Question 3

dissociative amnesia

Answer 3

inability to recall important autobiographical information
usually of a traumatic or stressful nature
inconsistent with ordinary forgetting

Question 4

5 types of memory problems w/dissociative amnesia

Answer 4

1. localized - all mems within a certain period of time
2. selective - can remember some but not all mems during a period of time
3. generalized - forgets everything about their entire life (RARE)
4. continuous - no memories from traumatic event onward - can be reclassified as localized if the period of forgetting ends, can also be selective @ same time
5. systematized - loss of memory to a specific category (person or activity related to trauma, etc.)

Question 5

depersonalization disorder

Answer 5

temporary loss or change in usual sense or reality of the self

Question 6

derealization disorder

Answer 6

sense of unreality about the external world - not a detachment from self, sometimes surroundings or time

Question 7

culture-bound dissociative syndromes

Answer 7

characteristic of folklore or beliefs associated with the culture, understood as something acceptable and aligned with cultural beliefs
not clinically significant

Question 8

psychodynamic theory - dissociative disorders

Answer 8

result from extreme use of repression
splitting off or blocking from conscious awareness

Question 9

social-cognitive theory - dissociative disorders

Answer 9

amnesia/fugue - learned response of distancing self from disturbing memories or emotions
DID - seen as a form of observational learning or role-playing

Question 10

biological theory - dissociative disorders

Answer 10

result of differences in structure, metabolic activity, and sleep

Question 11

diathesis-stress theory - dissociative disorders

Answer 11

certain personality traits (predisposition) + experience of extreme stress

Question 12

somatic symptom disorder

Answer 12

one or more somatic symptoms that are reflections of psychological factors
formerly “hypochondriasis”
physical complaints are authentic

Question 13

Illness-anxiety disorder

Answer 13

often not any symptoms at all
preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious disease
some seek medical attention constantly, others avoid hospitals entirely
excessive health-related behaviors

Question 14

Conversion Disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder)

Answer 14

one or more symptoms of altered sensory or voluntary motor function
incompatibility between symptom and recognized conditions
individuals who have this disorder are not purposely doing it make with no physical cause

Question 15

factitious disorder (self) aka munchausen syndrome

Answer 15

falsification of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, or induction of injury or disease, associated with identified deception
they pretend to be ill, or ACTUALLY make themselves ill
**absence of obvious external rewards

Question 16

Factitious disorder (imposed on another) aka munchausen by proxy

Answer 16

falsifications of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, or induction of injury or disease, in another, associated with identified deception
**absence of obvious external rewards

Question 17

malingering (NOT a DSM diagnosis)

Answer 17

when someone fakes being ill - usually not actually causing self harm
motivated by external rewards or incentives

Question 18

psychodynamic theory: somatic symptom disorders

Answer 18

primary gains: keep internal conflicts repressed
secondary gains: avoid responsibilities and acquired support

Question 19

learning theory: somatic symptom disorders

Answer 19

symptoms result from reinforcing, facilitate avoidance
sick role benefits??

Question 20

cognitive theory: somatic symptom disorders

Answer 20

hypochondriasis as self-handicapping
misinterpretation of bodily sensations & distorted thinking
people might blame their shortcomings on health issues

Question 21

biological theory: somatic symptom disorders

Answer 21

brain dysfunction
neural connections involved in conversion disorder somehow?

Question 22

treatment of somatic symptom disorders (psychodynamic):

Answer 22

bring unresolved conflicts into conscious awareness & work through them

Question 23

treatment of somatic symptom disorders (behavioral):

Answer 23

remove secondary gains

Question 24

treatment of somatic symptom disorders (cognitive-behavioral):

Answer 24

cognitive restructuring
exposure with response prevention

Question 25

psychosomatic disorders (not DSM diagnoses)

Answer 25

disorders in which psychological factors are believed to play a causal or contributing role
e.g., headaches, cancer, AIDS, cardiovascular disease