OnlineMedEd: Psychiatry - Somatiform

Question 1

Describe somatiform disorder.

Answer 1

Also called somatic symptom disorder, somatiform disorder is when a person has a real complaint (like a stomachache) that has no identifiable cause that then causes much psychologic distress.

Question 2

In somatiform disorder, you need to rule out _____________.

Answer 2

malingering and factitious disorder

Question 3

The best treatment for somatiform disorder is __________________.

Answer 3

to have one provider set boundaries for care so that unnecessary tests are avoided and new complaints can be properly assessed

Question 4

Describe illness anxiety disorder.

Answer 4

The person has no symptoms but worries about getting a disease.

Question 5

Describe conversion disorder.

Answer 5

• Neurologic complaints after a stressor
• The person doesn’t care (“belle indifference”)
• Won’t hurt self despite disorder (e.g., the blind person won’t walk into a wall)

Question 6

The difference between factitious disorder and malingering is ________________.

Answer 6

the goal; those with factitious disorder want people to pay attention to them, while those who are malingering want secondary gain (like getting out of jail or on disability)