Health Anxiety Flashcards
Def health anxiety
Excessive health related concerns, somatic perceptions and behaviours
Def somatisations
Psychological distress expressed through physical symptoms and subsequent medical help seeking
What other disorders can health anxiety be part of?
Somatisation disorder OCD Body dysmorphic disorder Panic disorder Delusional disorder
How long must somatisation disorder have gone on for a diagnosis?
> 2yr
How many groups of Sx must Sx be from to have somatisation disorder?
At least 2
Groups for somatisation disorder Sx (5)
GI CV GU Skin + pain complaints Neuro
According to ICD-10, what are many patients with somatisation disorder reliant on?
Analgesia
Sedatives
Def hypochondrical disordeer
Persistent belief (>6m) of presence of max 2 serious physical diseases Preoccupation --> signif distress + interference w/ fct Persistent refusal to accept medical reassurance
Def Munchausen’s disorder
Pt feigns Sx for no obvious reason
May inflict self harm to produce S+S
Internal motivation w/ aim of adopting the sick role
Def Malingering
Conscious manufacturing or exaggerating of Sx for a 2’ gain e.g. benefits, drugs (other than assuming the sick role)
Def Dissociative/conversion disorder
Traumatic event –> disruption of usually integraded functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception
PS of dissociative disorder (7)
Amnesia Fugue Stupor Trance/possession disorders Motor disorders Anaesthesia/sensory loss Convulsions
Fugue
Sudden unexpected journey that may last a few months, together w/ memory loss, confusion about personal identity
DDx health anxiety
Depression/anxiety disorders
PD
Organic - MS/Lupus/Porphyrias
Rarely - hypochondrical delusion - schizophrenia
Mx health anxiety
Build rapport Minimise unnecessary tests + Ix Limit use medical jargon Schedule reg appt indepedent of sx status Make link betw physical Sx and psycho factors Encourage normal social fct CBT Sometimes antiD's can be useful
