Seminar 6

Question 1

What does „psychosomatic” mean?

Answer 1

Psychosomatic as a term (first mentioned by Heinroth, 1818) refers to the unity and interdependence of the biological and psychosocial aspects of human existence.

Question 2

What is „somatization”?

Answer 2

Somatization is the patient’s tendency to experience and communicate psychological distress in the form of somatic symptoms and to seek medical help for them (first mentioned by Steckel, 1925).

Question 3

Two main fields in psychosomatics

Answer 3

Behavioural medicine

Health psychology

Question 4

Conversions

Answer 4

Motor or sensory symptoms such as deficits, seizures, which cannot be explained by the physical condition or psychoactive substance use. The psychological conflict is expressed in a somatic response, which has a symbolic meaning

Question 5

Functional disorders

Answer 5

Complaints without organic alterations in their backgorund, but the functioning of organs is altered, and is influenced by psychological factors such as stress

Question 6

Psychosomatoses

Answer 6

 These are the psychosomatic disorders in the ir narrower sense.

Question 7

Diagnostic categories within the group of somatization syndromes include

Answer 7

Undifferentiated somatoform disorder.
 Hypochondriasis.
 Somatoform autonomic dysfunction.
 Persistent somatoform pain disorder.
 Other somatoform disorders, such as dysmenorrhoea, dysphagia etc.
 Somatoform disorder, unspecified.

Question 8

Care-seeking type:

Answer 8

Medical care, visits, tests, procedures are frequently used.

Question 9

Care-avoidant type:

Answer 9

Medical care is rarely used.

Question 10

hypochondria

Answer 10

 Care-seeking type

 Care-avoidant type

Question 11

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Answer 11

One or more somatic symptoms that are distressing or result in significant disruption of daily life

Question 12

Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder

Answer 12

One or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function.

Question 13

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self

Answer 13

Falsification of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, or induction of injury or disease, associated with identified deception

Question 14

Brief somatic symptom disorder

Answer 14

Duration of symptoms is less than 6 months

Question 15

 Brief illness anxiety disorder

Answer 15

Duration of symptoms is less than 6 months

Question 16

Theories on the Causes of Somatization

Answer 16

this is a result of the body’s attempt to cope with emotional and psychological stress.

Question 17

Causes of Somatization

Answer 17

these people have heightened sensitivity to internal physical sensations and pain.

Question 18

General adaptation syndrome (3 phases):

Answer 18

1. Alarm
2. Resistance
3. Exhaustion

Question 19

Psychodynamic theories (Freud)

Answer 19

The main mechanism is conversion = symbolic, dramatic expression of the psychological conflict

Question 20

The psychodynamic psychosomatic theory of Franz Alexander

Answer 20

The unexpressed, repressed emotions cause chronic tension and increase the vegetative innervation.

Question 21

Franz Alexander: „the holly seven psychosomatic diseases

Answer 21

peptic ulcer
 bronchial asthma
 rheumatoid arthritis
 ulcerative colitis
 essential hypertension  neurodermatitis
 thyrotoxicosis

Question 22

Most important family characteristics in psychosomatics

Answer 22

Communication:
 no sender or no reciever
 sender speaks in someone elses name  indirect / obscure / hidden messages
 double bind

Question 23

Epidemiology

Answer 23

Somatization disorder is estimated to occur in 0.2% to 2% of females, and 0.2% of males.

Question 24

Treatment of psychosomatic disorders

Answer 24

psychoeducation