somatic disorders

Question 1

what does soma mean

Answer 1

of the body

Question 2

so what are somatic disorders

Answer 2

caused by psychological problems, but present themselves physically

Question 3

how are somatic disorders a cycle

Answer 3

psych problems -> physical problems (back pain, migraines, etc) -> cause more psych problems

Question 4

what can you catastrophize and what does it mean

Answer 4

you can catastrophize anxiety and depression (fail test -> “i am a failure”)

you can also catastrophize pain

Question 5

does pain show up on medical tests with somatic disorders

Answer 5

no, so this is where the doctor should recommend counseling

-but this does not often happen

Question 6

what can having a lot of pain and uncertain causes of pain lead to

Answer 6

getting all of the tests from doctors is expensive and time consuming and stressful
-they will also give some stressful potential diagnoses

Question 7

what does factitious mean

Answer 7

(used to be called “Munchausen syndrome”)
-group of somatic disorders, person repeatedly and deliberately acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when he or she is not really sick

Question 8

who can factitious disorders be applied to

Answer 8

self and others

• people create physical or psychological symptoms
• self: bruising, may hit themselves and then go to doctor
• others: people trick someone else into thinking they are sick because being a caregiver is relieving to their psychological issues, can poison someone

Question 9

what are factitious disorders different than

Answer 9

faking sick, skipping work and going out and drinking

Question 10

what is somatic symptom disorder

Answer 10

disorder in which people become excessively distressed, concerned, and anxious about their bodily symptoms that they are experiencing and their lives are greatly and disproportionately disrupted by the symptoms

Question 11

what is illness anxiety disorder

Answer 11

a disorder in which people are chronically anxious about and preoccupied with the notion that they have or are developing a serious medical illness despite the absence of somatic symptoms

previously known as hypochondriasis

Question 12

what is primary gain and an example

Answer 12

the gain people achieve when their somatic symptoms keep their internal conflicts out of awareness

-kid has ADD or ADHD you get money

Question 13

what is secondary gain

Answer 13

the gain people achieve when their somatic symptoms elicit kindness from other or provide an excuse for avoiding unpleasant activities

-not having to go to work

Question 14

what can somatic symptoms lead to

Answer 14

sociopathic tendencies

-to self, not hurting others

Question 15

what can somatic disorders be caused by

Answer 15

poor coping mechanisms, bad relationships, social stressors, having to get a lot of treatment as a kid, inattentive parents & parents are medical professionals

Question 16

explain having to get a lot of treatments as a kid

Answer 16

kids cannot get perspective on things when they are young, the littlest things will be magnified

Question 17

explain parents as medical professionals

Answer 17

only give attention when kid is hurt sick or injured

Question 18

explain conversion disorder

Answer 18

disorder in which bodily symptoms affect voluntary motor and sensory functions but the symptoms are inconsistent with known medical diseases

Question 19

how does conversion disorder work

Answer 19

focuses on neurological like symptomology

• neurological symptoms but no issue
• convert psychological stress into neurological symptoms

Question 20

what are the symptoms of conversion disorder and what will people do to see the cause of symptoms

Answer 20

glove anesthesia: feels like you are wearing a glove, but you are not and can make hand feel numb

• will do nerve tests to see if nothing is wrong
• then go to brain and spinr tests (both will come up negative)

Question 21

what is conversion blindness

Answer 21

-person will say they are blind and cannot see, person actually thinks they are blind and it is caused by trauma, but if you throw a ball at them they will catch it

• you see something traumatic and then you cannot see
• psyche will not let anymore visual information in (unconscious is still aware of objects)

Question 22

what are the two patterns of somatic disorders

Answer 22

1) somatization pattern

2) predominant pain pattern

Question 23

what is somatization pattern

Answer 23

long lasting, no physical basis for it

Question 24

what is predominant pain pattern

Answer 24

pain source is known, but the pain takes on a conversion nature (it should be better by now, it should not hurt anymore)

Question 25

what are the two patterns caused by

Answer 25

all caused by stress or escape from stress

-medical pain and injuries get a lot more sympathy than psychological

Question 26

why did illness anxiety disorder change from hypochondriasis

Answer 26

both morbid fear of life threatening illness,

illness anxiety disorder expanded on hypochondriasis to a focus on illness in general

Question 27

some symptoms / characteristics of illness anxiety disorder

Answer 27

hyper-focus on symptoms

ex. sneezing does not mean you have the flu
- there are no real symptoms (vague sore throat, sneeze, etc) but the person gets so hyper-focused on the symptoms and they are convinced they are sick which causes anxiety and makes them think they are even more sick

Question 28

what are some stats about illness anxiety disorder

Answer 28

can last for 6 or more months

• affects men and women equally
• similar to OCD
• can lead to everything anxiety can lead to (drug use, isolation, etc)