Somatic disorders

Question 1

Somatic Critical Conceptual Distinctions

Answer 1

Malingering - deliberate faking with a gain
Factitious Disorder - Deliberate faking for no apparent gain other than attention
Somatic Symptom Disorder - genuine belief that one is ill

Question 2

Somatic symptom disorder

Answer 2

Pain and some physical symptoms inherently subjective phenomenon
DSM places emphasis on presentation, interpretation and impairment - This dictates the diagnosis
Often comorbid with PTSD and depression
Difficult to diagnose

Question 3

Diagnosis SSD

Answer 3

Somatic symptoms are distressing or result in disruption of daily life
Excessive thoughts, feelings and behavior related to symptoms
Chronic

Question 4

Illness anxiety disorder (Hypochondriasis)

Answer 4

Preoccupation with having a serious disease - usually very specific
Minimal somatic symptoms - if any
High level of anxiety and low threshold for “sickness”
Excessive health-related behaviors
Duration - tends to come and go

Question 5

Conversion disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)

Answer 5

Functional = there is a psychological component, not just a biological process
One or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function
Incompatibility with recognized neurological or medical conditions.
(person is unconsciously looking for a social reward or facilitation)

Question 6

Cognitive behavioral explanation for conv, dis

Answer 6

Learned through experience
Contemporary anxiety - stressful event
Assessment done through tests
Dysfunctional beliefs and interpretations
Neural Matrix Mode - Melzack 1990
Dysfunctional safety behaviors (picking or guarding)

Question 7

Treatment conversion dis

Answer 7

Education 
Activity resumption
Self-management skills - tackle what is making the person concerned/stressed
Relaxation training
Reduce reassurance-seeking 
Reduce social facilitation

Question 8

Factitious Disorder

Answer 8

Falsification of physical or psychological symptoms; induction of injury or disease
Social presentation as ill or injured
Absence of obvious external reward

Question 9

Factitious Disorder by Proxy

Answer 9

making child sick on purpose