Lecture 9- Somatic symptoms disorder & dissociative disorder

Question 1

Definition of somatization (Expression of…)

Answer 1

Expression of mental distress as physical symptoms

Question 2

Why are somatic symptom disorders and dissociative disorders considered together (hint: disconnection, ‘split off’)

Answer 2

Both involve disconnection between mental awareness and another mental function.
SSD= Sensory motor system
Dissociative dx= memory/identity

Question 3

How is abnormal somatization considered?

Answer 3

When symptoms cannot be dismissed and affect functionality of normal day activities

Question 4

There are 2 setbacks to diagnosing somatic symptom disorder. what are they?

Answer 4

1) Difficult to distinguish between physical disorder and SSDs. Family history and disorder-related questions are important
2) Difficult to distinguish somatic symptoms from other psychological disorders. (E.g. Fatigue common in depression)

Question 5

give an example of Aetiological causes of somatic symptom disorder? there are 4

Answer 5

Biological
Trauma
Family factors
Environmental factors

Question 6

What is the main difference between somatic symptom dx and illness anxiety dx?

Answer 6

SSD is characterized by one or more somatic symptom that causes distress in daily life while IAD is characterized by distressing concern with contracting a physical illness even without signs of somatic symptoms