Functional Psychiatric Disorders Flashcards
What are functional psychiatric disorders?
They are defined as conditions in which patients present with psychiatric features for which there is no obtainable organic cause
What are the seven functional psychiatric disorders?
Somatisation Disorder
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Conversion Disorder
Dissociative Disorder
Factitious Disorder
Malingering
Othello Syndrome
What is somatisation disorder?
This is defined as the presentation of multiple physical clinical features for a period of at least two years
These patients refuse to accept reassurance or negative test results
How do we remember the features of somatisation disorder?
Somatisation = Symptoms
What is another term for illness anxiety disorder?
Hypochondriasis
What is illness anxiety disorder?
It is defined as the persistent belief in the presence of an underlying serious disease, such as cancer
These patients refuse to accept reassurance or negative test results
How do we remember the features of hypochondriasis?
hypoChondriasis = Cancer
What is another term for conversion disorder?
Functional neurological disorder
What is conversion disorder?
It is defined as a loss of motor/sensory function with no obtainable organic cause
What is a common cause of conversion disorder?
Stress
What are the five clincial features associated with conversion disorder?
Neuropathic Pain
Motor Weakness
Tremor
Ataxia
Seizures
What are two clincial examination features associated with conversion disorder?
Hoover’s sign
Drop arm sign
How do we conduct the Hoover’s test?
It involves the patient being placed in a supine position, in which the examiner places their hand under the patient’s heel
The patient is then instructed to press their heels down onto the table, followed by elevation of the limb against downward resistance applied by the examiner
What is a positive Hoover’s test?
It occurs when flexion of the unaffected leg against resistance, results in involuntary extension of the affected leg
How do we conduct the drop-arm test?
It nvolves the examiner standing behind the seated patient and passively abducting the patient’s arms to 90 degrees and full external rotation, whilst supporting the arm at the elbow
The examiner then releases the elbow support and asks the patient to slowly lower the arm back to neutral
What is a positive drop-arm test?
It occurs when the patient unconsciously exhibits a controlled drop to prevent the arm from hitting their face
What is dissociative disorder?
It is defined as a disconnection between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity from normal consciousness
What is another term for factitious disorder?
Munchausen’s syndrome
What is factitious disorder?
It is defined as the intentional production of physiological or psychological symptoms
What is malingering?
It is defined as fraudulent simulation or exaggeration of clinical features, with intention of financial or other gain - such as drug administration
What is Othello syndrome?
It is defined as pathological jealousy, in which individuals most commonly believe that their partner is not faithful
