MCQ ch - 10 Somatic Disorder Flashcards
Which of the following best differentiates factitious disorder (Munchausen’s Syndrome) from malingering?
A) Factitious disorder involves real physical symptoms, while malingering involves imagined ones.
B) Malingering is motivated by internal psychological needs, while factitious disorder is motivated by external incentives.
C) Factitious disorder involves feigning illness without external gain, while malingering involves feigning illness for external rewards.
D) Malingering always involves causing harm to others, while factitious disorder is self-directed.
The answer is C.
Explanation:
Factitious Disorder: The individual intentionally produces or fakes symptoms without any external incentives—they do it simply to adopt the sick role.
Malingering: Also involves intentional faking or exaggerating of symptoms, but for an external gain like money, avoiding work, legal benefits, etc.
Which of the following is true about Illness Anxiety Disorder?
A) It requires the presence of multiple somatic symptoms.
B) It is characterized by a preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness despite mild or no symptoms.
C) It was previously known as factitious disorder.
D) It often includes intentional deception by the patient to gain sympathy.
The correct answer is B.
Explanation:
Illness Anxiety Disorder is marked by:
Persistent preoccupation with having or getting a serious illness.
Little or no actual somatic symptoms.
High anxiety about health and excessive health-related behaviors (like repeated doctor visits or constant body-checking).
It used to be called hypochondriasis, not factitious disorder (which rules out option C).
There is no intentional deception in illness anxiety disorder, which rules out D.
And A is incorrect because multiple somatic symptoms are not required—that’s more typical of Somatic Symptom Disorder.
Which of the following is a key feature of Conversion Disorder (hysteria)?
A) The symptoms are intentionally faked for attention.
B) There is clear medical evidence explaining the loss of function.
C) The symptoms include altered voluntary motor or sensory function with no identifiable medical cause.
D) It is diagnosed only when the patient reports hallucinations.
The answer is C.
Explanation:
Conversion Disorder (also called Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder) is characterized by:
A sudden loss or alteration of motor or sensory function (e.g., paralysis, seizures, blindness).
No medical explanation for the symptoms.
The symptoms are not intentionally produced—this is what makes it different from malingering or factitious disorder.
Let’s rule out the others:
A is false: symptoms are not faked.
B is false: by definition, there’s no clear medical cause.
D is unrelated—hallucinations are not central to conversion disorder.
Which historical figure believed that women’s somatic complaints were due to a “wandering uterus”?
A) Freud
B) Hippocrates
C) Anna O.
D) Breuer
The answer is B — Hippocrates.
Explanation:
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, proposed the concept of the “wandering uterus” (from the Greek word hystera, meaning uterus).
He believed that unexplained physical symptoms in women were caused by the uterus moving around the body.
This led to the historical term hysteria, and unfortunately, it contributed to centuries of sexist interpretations of women’s health issues.
Let’s review the other options:
Freud and Breuer came much later and developed psychodynamic theories.
Anna O. was a famous case study of hysteria, but she was the patient, not the theorist.
What is the main distinguishing feature of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (by proxy)?
A) The symptoms are always unintentional.
B) The individual lies about or induces symptoms in another person.
C) It always involves a financial motive.
D) The affected individual is always a child who fakes illness.
The answer is B — The individual lies about or induces symptoms in another person.
Explanation:
Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (also known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy) involves:
A caregiver or another person intentionally causing or fabricating illness in someone else, often a child or dependent.
The goal is to assume the “sick role” vicariously—to get attention, sympathy, or admiration as a caregiver.
Let’s rule out the others:
A is false — the actions are very intentional.
C is incorrect — there is no external reward (unlike malingering).
D is false — the victim is often a child, but the person with the disorder is usually an adult, like a parent.
Which of the following is true about Somatic Symptom Disorder?
A) It is defined solely by the presence of physical symptoms.
B) The person experiences physical symptoms with no distress or dysfunction.
C) It involves real or perceived physical symptoms and excessive focus on them, impairing daily life.
D) It is synonymous with malingering.
The answer is C — It involves real or perceived physical symptoms and excessive focus on them, impairing daily life.
Explanation:
Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD):
Involves actual or perceived physical symptoms (like pain, fatigue, etc.).
The key feature is excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to these symptoms.
It interferes with daily life, even if there’s a medical explanation or not.
Let’s eliminate the others:
A is wrong — it’s not just about symptoms, it’s about the response to them.
B is wrong — there’s significant distress and dysfunction.
D is way off — malingering involves lying for gain, SSD does not.
According to psychodynamic theory, why do somatic symptoms occur?
A) They help people manipulate others into giving them attention.
B) They are biological disorders caused by a chemical imbalance.
C) They are a means to keep unconscious conflicts repressed.
D) They are caused by distorted cognitive appraisals.
The correct answer is C — They are a means to keep unconscious conflicts repressed.
Explanation:
According to psychodynamic theory:
Somatic symptoms serve as a defense mechanism.
They keep deep internal psychological conflicts buried in the unconscious.
When these conflicts are too painful or anxiety-inducing, the mind “converts” them into physical symptoms.
Treatment focuses on bringing those conflicts into conscious awareness so the symptoms can resolve.
Let’s eliminate the rest:
A — This would be more relevant to factitious disorder, not psychodynamic explanations.
B — That’s more of a biological/medical model, not the psychodynamic one.
D — Distorted thinking relates to cognitive-behavioral theories, not Freud’s.
Which of the following disorders is most associated with the intentional induction of symptoms for the purpose of assuming the sick role?
A) Malingering
B) Factitious Disorder
C) Conversion Disorder
D) Illness Anxiety Disorder
The answer is B — Factitious Disorder.
Explanation:
Factitious Disorder is characterized by intentionally faking or inducing symptoms in order to assume the sick role and gain attention or care, but without any external rewards (e.g., financial gain).
Individuals with this disorder may harm themselves or alter medical tests to appear sick.
Let’s rule out the others:
A — Malingering involves faking symptoms for external gain, such as avoiding work or getting financial compensation.
C — Conversion Disorder involves physical symptoms without medical explanation, typically linked to emotional distress, but not intentionally induced.
D — Illness Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive worry about having or getting a serious illness, but not by intentionally inducing symptoms.
Which of the following is a common symptom of Conversion Disorder?
A) Headaches
B) Sensory loss or sensory symptoms
C) Hallucinations
D) Memory loss
The correct answer is B — Sensory loss or sensory symptoms.
Explanation:
Conversion Disorder involves neurological symptoms that can’t be explained by medical conditions. These symptoms can include:
Sensory loss (e.g., inability to feel touch or pain),
Paralysis (e.g., loss of movement),
Abnormal motor movements (e.g., tremors, difficulty walking),
Speech impairments,
Non-epileptic seizures.
Headaches are not typically a primary symptom of conversion disorder.
Let’s clarify the other options:
A — Headaches are more common in stress or other physical conditions, not conversion disorder.
C — Hallucinations are typically associated with disorders like schizophrenia, not conversion disorder.
D — Memory loss is often related to dissociative disorders, not conversion disorder.
The term “wandering uterus”, which led to the concept of hysteria, originated from the beliefs of:
A) Sigmund Freud
B) Hippocrates
C) Anna O.
D) Richard Asher
The answer is B — Hippocrates.
Explanation:
The “wandering uterus” theory was introduced by Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician.
He believed that a woman’s uterus could move around the body, causing physical and mental symptoms — a concept that later evolved into the term hysteria (from the Greek word hystera, meaning uterus).
He even suggested marriage and pregnancy as a “cure”, thinking they would satisfy the uterus and keep it in place.
This outdated idea contributed to the stigmatization of women’s health complaints for centuries.
Which disorder was formerly known as hypochondriasis?
A) Somatic Symptom Disorder
B) Conversion Disorder
C) Factitious Disorder
D) Illness Anxiety Disorder
The correct answer is D — Illness Anxiety Disorder.
Explanation:
Illness Anxiety Disorder is the modern name for what used to be called hypochondriasis in earlier versions of the DSM.
It involves persistent worry about having or developing a serious illness.
People with this disorder often misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of severe illness, even when medical tests come back normal.
This leads to excessive health-related behaviors like checking symptoms constantly or avoiding doctors out of fear.
Let’s look at the other options:
A — Somatic Symptom Disorder: Involves actual physical symptoms that are distressing, along with excessive thoughts and behaviors related to them.
B — Conversion Disorder: Involves neurological-like symptoms (e.g., paralysis, non-epileptic seizures) that can’t be explained medically, but it’s not related to hypochondriasis.
C — Factitious Disorder: Involves intentionally faking or inducing illness without external rewards — different concept entirely.
Conversion Disorder
🕰️ Old name:
Hysteria
Factitious Disorder
🔁 Previously known as
Munchausen Syndrome
Which of the following best describes Conversion Disorder?
A) Repeated checking of one’s body for signs of illness
B) Intentionally faking illness for financial gain
C) Loss of motor or sensory function that appears neurological, but lacks a medical explanation
D) Excessive worry about having or acquiring a serious illness, despite medical reassurance
correct answer is C ✅
🧠 Let’s break it down:
Correct Answer: C —
Loss of motor or sensory function that appears neurological, but lacks a medical explanation
This describes Conversion Disorder (also known as Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder in DSM-5).
🔎 What is Conversion Disorder?
Involves sudden loss of physical function like:
Paralysis 🦵
Blindness 👁️
Non-epileptic seizures 😵💫
Speech impairments 🗣️
Sensory loss 🖐️
BUT — there’s no identifiable medical cause (it’s psychological in origin)
The symptoms are not faked — the person truly believes they are ill
Historically linked to “hysteria” (e.g., Anna O. & Freud)
The person is fully aware they are lying to gain external benefits like money or avoiding work
Malingering
The person has no physical symptoms but believes they are severely ill due to health anxiety
Illness Anxiety Disorder
The person fakes symptoms only when being observed by medical staff
Factitious Disorder
Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (by Proxy) aka?
Previously called Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of Conversion Disorder?
A) Sudden onset of neurological symptoms like paralysis or blindness
B) Symptoms that can be explained by a known medical condition
C) Lack of medical evidence to support the neurological symptoms
D) Symptoms that appear real, but are psychological in origin
✅ B is the correct answer.
🧠 Why B is correct:
Conversion Disorder symptoms cannot be explained by a known medical condition.
The symptoms are real, but they are psychological in origin, not linked to an actual neurological issue.
A, C, and D are true characteristics of Conversion Disorder — these symptoms appear neurological, but lack medical explanation.
Which of the following is NOT a recommended treatment for Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders?
A) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
B) Tricyclic antidepressants
C) Antipsychotic medications
D) Relaxation training
C: Antipsychotic medications.
🧠 Why C is correct:
Antipsychotics are not typically used to treat Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders.
These disorders are more commonly treated with therapies like CBT, relaxation techniques, and medications like antidepressants (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants or SSRIs).
CBT (A) is often used to help restructure dysfunctional thoughts about health and reduce anxiety around symptoms.
Relaxation training (D) can help with managing stress and reducing physical tension.
Tricyclic antidepressants (B) and SSRIs can be helpful for managing underlying depression or anxiety in these disorders.
Which of the following best describes the motivational factor behind Factitious Disorder?
A) The desire to avoid work or military service
B) The desire to gain attention or sympathy from others by feigning illness
C) The need to escape from stressful life situations
D) The attempt to receive monetary gain, such as financial compensation or insurance fraud
B is correct!
🧠 Why B is correct:
Factitious Disorder involves feigning or inducing illness in oneself (or others) with the primary motivation being to assume the sick role and gain attention or sympathy.
The individual is not seeking external rewards like money or avoiding work; they are motivated by a psychological need to be seen as sick.
A, C, and D describe other conditions like Malingering (where someone seeks external gain, such as avoiding work or receiving compensation).
