Somatic Disorder Flashcards
Somatic symptom disorder (SSD)
- the manifestation of one or more physical symptoms accompanied by excessive thoughts, emotion, and/or behavior related to the symptom, which causes significant distress and/or dysfunction
Prevalence of SSD
- more common in female
- 5-7% of the population
- occurs in any age (childhood, adolescence, or adulthood)
Etiology of SSD
- neglect (childhood neglect or sexual abuse
- chaotic lifestyle
- substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)
- anxiety
- personality disorder (Axis II Disorders)
- psychosocial stressors (unemployment)
Symptoms and challenges of SSD
- heightened awareness of body sensations
- interpreting normal symptoms as severe medical illness
- physical symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath
- excessive time spent on worrying about possible illness and symptoms (can be debilitating)
- health care visits
- care-seeking = frequently seeks tests and appointments
- care-avoidant = avoids medical care
- repeated checking of body for abnormalities
Somatic symptom disorder diagram (slide 8)
- extreme focus on physical symptoms that results in major distress and problems functioning
- seeing normal physical sensation as several physical illness
- fearing that symptoms are serious, even where there is no evidence
- constant worry about potential illness
- constantly checking body for abnormalities
- frequent health care visits don’t relieve concerns or make them worse
- feel that medical evaluation and treatment have not been adequate
Comorbidities with SSD
- depression
- anxiety and panic
- OCD
- central sensitivity
SDD is commonly mixed up
Illness anxiety disorder:
- high health anxiety with NO SYMPTOMS
- fear surrounds developing symptoms or a serious illness
- equally common in either gender
Somatic symptom disorder:
- high health anxiety WITH SYMTOMS
- fear surrounds their current symptoms being a serious illness
- more common in females
Occupational limitations on work/school
- poor work performance
- missing days/sick days
- being disruptive
Occupational limitations on relationships
- family and friends
Occupational limitations on mental health
- depression
- anxiety
- personality disorders
Occupational limitations on finances
- excessive health care visits
Occupational implications on quality of life
- always in a state of pain
Occupational limitations on substance use
- alcohol or substance use as a way of coping
Physical limitations
- chronic pain
- fatigue
- GI issues
- dizziness
- muscle weakness
Cognitive limitations
- impaired concentration
- memory problems
- difficulty problem solving
Emotional limitations
- anxiety
- depression
- irritability
- emotional dysregulation
Social limitations
- isolation
- misunderstanding/stigma
- fear of judgment
Impact on ADLs
- self care
- mobility
- eating and nutrition
Impact on IADLs
- cleaning/housekeeping
- transportation
- meal preparation
- managing finances
Impact on work
- physical
- cognitive
Impact on education
- showing up to class
- taking sick days because of symptoms
- paying attention/concentration
Impact on leisure
- physical leisure
- relaxation
Impact on social participation
- social isolation
Lived experiences with Anna and Matthew
- both Anna and Matthew felt feelings of isolation
- feelings of uncertainty, doubt, and confusion because the doctors didn’t have answers
- both Anna and Matthew stated they were so afraid to fail that that their body shit down
- invisible disability
- limited each of them from their meaningful occupations
- symptoms rom the research align with the symptoms Anna and Matthew felt
- common comorbidity is depression, which is something Anna felt when she could no longer dance
Key Points
- extreme and debilitating stress about small physical symptoms
- symptoms are real but they are amplified
- interferes with daily functioning such as work or social life/relationships
- treatment can include CBT, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, and coping mechanisms such as mindfulness or meditiation
