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Psychopathology > Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders > Flashcards

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What is the core challenge in diagnosing somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

The core challenge is the intersection of physical and psychological distress, requiring an understanding of both.

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2
Q

How do individuals with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) perceive their symptoms?

A

Individuals with SSD experience their symptoms as real and distressing, even without a clear medical explanation.

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3
Q

What is the focus of somatic symptom disorder in terms of symptoms?

A

SSD emphasizes the impact of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors on physical symptoms, not just biological factors.

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4
Q

What is the key diagnostic criterion for somatic symptom disorder?

A

One or more distressing somatic symptoms that disrupt daily life.

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5
Q

What is a common behavior seen in individuals with somatic symptom disorder?

A

Excessive worry about the seriousness of symptoms, frequent medical consultations, and life changes due to fear of symptoms.

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6
Q

How long must symptoms persist for a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder?

A

Symptoms must persist for at least 6 months.

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7
Q

What specifiers can be used for somatic symptom disorder?

A

“With predominant pain” (chronic pain) and “With persistent symptoms” (multiple lasting somatic symptoms).

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8
Q

What is the estimated prevalence of somatic symptom disorder?

A

An estimated 5-7% of the population experiences SSD.

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9
Q

Why might somatic symptom disorder go undiagnosed?

A

SSD may go undiagnosed due to a focus on medical rather than psychological explanations for symptoms.

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10
Q

What is the primary characteristic of illness anxiety disorder?

A

A preoccupation with fear of serious illness despite mild or absent somatic symptoms.

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11
Q

How does illness anxiety disorder differ from somatic symptom disorder?

A

In illness anxiety disorder, the fear of illness persists without significant somatic symptoms, unlike SSD.

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12
Q

What behaviors are characteristic of illness anxiety disorder?

A

Frequent body checking, researching medical information, seeking reassurance, and avoiding medical settings.

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13
Q

What is the key diagnostic feature of conversion disorder?

A

One or more symptoms affecting motor or sensory function without a clear medical cause, often triggered by psychological distress.

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14
Q

What are some examples of symptoms in conversion disorder?

A

Paralysis, blindness, non-epileptic seizures, and “glove anesthesia.”

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15
Q

What is the key distinction between conversion disorder and malingering?

A

Conversion disorder symptoms are not intentional or feigned, unlike malingering, which is done for external benefits.

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16
Q

What triggers conversion disorder symptoms?

A

Psychological distress, often linked to traumatic events.

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17
Q

Who is most commonly affected by conversion disorder?

A

Conversion disorder is more common in women and is seen in about 5% of neurology clinic cases.

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18
Q

How do cultural beliefs influence conversion disorder?

A

Cultural beliefs can affect how symptoms manifest in conversion disorder, shaping the way they are experienced.

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19
Q

What is the core feature of factitious disorder?

A

Intentional feigning or inducing of symptoms for the purpose of playing the “sick role.”

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20
Q

What motivates individuals with factitious disorder?

A

Individuals with factitious disorder seek internal psychological gain, not external incentives.

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21
Q

How does factitious disorder differ from malingering?

A

Malingering is motivated by external benefits (e.g., financial gain), while factitious disorder seeks emotional attention.

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22
Q

What is Munchausen syndrome by proxy?

A

Munchausen syndrome by proxy involves inducing illness in others, typically children, to gain attention or sympathy.

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23
Q

What are the primary treatment approaches for somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

Psychotherapy (insight-oriented, CBT, trauma-informed therapy) and medical management (coordinated care between professionals).

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24
Q

How does CBT help in treating somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

CBT targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, reducing catastrophic thinking and distress related to physical symptoms.

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25
Q

What is trauma-informed therapy?

A

Trauma-informed therapy focuses on the impact of past traumatic experiences on current health and well-being.

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26
Q

How does relaxation and biofeedback help in treatment?

A

Relaxation and biofeedback techniques help individuals manage physical symptoms and reduce stress or anxiety.

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27
Q

What role do support groups play in treating somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

Support groups provide shared experiences, offering emotional support and helping individuals feel understood.

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28
Q

What is the importance of cultural sensitivity in treating somatic symptom disorders?

A

Treatments should be aligned with cultural beliefs and values to ensure effectiveness and respect.

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29
Q

Why is addressing stigma important in somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

Public education about these disorders helps reduce stigma and promotes empathy and understanding.

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30
Q

How does patient-centered care benefit individuals with somatic symptom disorders?

A

Trust and empathy in patient-centered care help build a strong therapeutic alliance, essential for treatment.

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31
Q

How are somatic symptoms perceived by individuals with somatic symptom disorder?

A

Somatic symptoms are perceived as real and distressing, regardless of medical findings.

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32
Q

What impact do excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors have in SSD?

A

These excesses, such as disproportionate worry, can disrupt daily life and lead to frequent medical consultations.

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33
Q

How long must symptoms persist for the diagnosis of illness anxiety disorder?

A

Symptoms must persist for at least 6 months.

34
Q

What is the prevalence of conversion disorder?

A

Conversion disorder is seen in about 5% of neurology clinic cases.

35
Q

How does psychological distress contribute to conversion disorder?

A

Psychological distress triggers conversion disorder symptoms like paralysis or blindness.

36
Q

What is a common behavior in individuals with illness anxiety disorder?

A

They may frequently check their body for signs of illness or seek reassurance from doctors or family members.

37
Q

What is the diagnostic focus in treating somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

The focus is on ruling out medical conditions while addressing the psychological distress linked to physical symptoms.

38
Q

What is a key factor in differentiating factitious disorder from other disorders?

A

Factitious disorder involves intentional symptom feigning for psychological gain, rather than for external benefits.

39
Q

What kind of symptoms are common in conversion disorder?

A

Symptoms like non-epileptic seizures, paralysis, and sensory deficits like “glove anesthesia” are common.

40
Q

What types of medical management are involved in somatic symptom disorders?

A

Medical management includes ruling out underlying conditions and maintaining coordinated care with multiple professionals.

41
Q

How does psychotherapy address the psychological aspects of somatic symptom disorders?

A

Psychotherapy explores underlying psychological conflicts and helps modify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.

42
Q

What is a critical aspect of patient care in somatic symptom disorders?

A

Patient-centered care, which builds trust and promotes a strong therapeutic alliance, is critical for effective treatment.

43
Q

What is a unique challenge when diagnosing somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

The challenge lies in understanding and diagnosing both physical and psychological distress, and how they interact.

44
Q

How do people with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) react to their symptoms?

A

They experience their symptoms as real and distressing, often without any clear medical explanation.

45
Q

What is emphasized in somatic symptom disorder regarding the nature of symptoms?

A

The influence of psychological factors (thoughts, feelings, behaviors) on physical symptoms is emphasized.

46
Q

What is a key characteristic of individuals with somatic symptom disorder?

A

They often exhibit disproportionate worry about the seriousness of their symptoms, even after negative medical results.

47
Q

What medical condition must be ruled out when diagnosing somatic symptom disorder?

A

It is important to rule out any underlying medical conditions before diagnosing SSD.

48
Q

How is the persistence of symptoms defined for somatic symptom disorder?

A

Symptoms must persist for a duration of at least 6 months for a diagnosis of SSD.

49
Q

What is the significance of “with predominant pain” in somatic symptom disorder?

A

It indicates that chronic pain is the primary symptom in SSD.

50
Q

What is the specifier “with persistent symptoms” used to describe in SSD?

A

This specifier is used when multiple somatic symptoms persist over time in SSD.

51
Q

What role does stress or anxiety play in somatic symptom disorder?

A

Psychological stress and anxiety often exacerbate the somatic symptoms in SSD.

52
Q

How do individuals with SSD view their somatic symptoms compared to doctors?

A

They view their symptoms as real, despite doctors finding no medical explanation.

53
Q

What is the lifetime prevalence of somatic symptom disorder?

A

SSD is estimated to affect 5-7% of the population.

54
Q

What is a common issue that makes SSD go undiagnosed?

A

A focus on medical causes and the absence of clear medical findings may lead to SSD going undiagnosed.

55
Q

How does illness anxiety disorder differ in the nature of symptoms?

A

Illness anxiety disorder features minimal or absent physical symptoms, with a focus on excessive worry about illness.

56
Q

What is a common compulsive behavior in illness anxiety disorder?

A

Frequent body checking for signs of illness is a typical behavior in illness anxiety disorder.

57
Q

How does illness anxiety disorder affect daily behavior?

A

It leads to excessive worry about health, constant reassurance seeking, and avoidance of medical settings due to fear of diagnosis.

58
Q

How are conversion disorder symptoms different from malingering?

A

Conversion disorder symptoms are not feigned intentionally, unlike malingering, which involves external motivations like financial gain.

59
Q

What are common symptoms of conversion disorder?

A

Symptoms include paralysis, blindness, non-epileptic seizures, and sensory deficits like “glove anesthesia.”

60
Q

How does the psychological aspect contribute to conversion disorder?

A

Psychological distress, often from trauma or stress, triggers the onset of conversion disorder symptoms.

61
Q

What is “glove anesthesia” in conversion disorder?

A

It refers to a type of sensory loss that affects the hand and arm, often without a clear medical cause.

62
Q

How does conversion disorder affect women compared to men?

A

Conversion disorder is more commonly diagnosed in women.

63
Q

What is a cultural consideration in conversion disorder?

A

Cultural beliefs may influence the manifestation and perception of conversion disorder symptoms.

64
Q

What is factitious disorder?

A

Factitious disorder involves intentionally producing or feigning symptoms for emotional gain, typically the “sick role.”

65
Q

How does factitious disorder differ from malingering?

A

Malingering is motivated by external rewards, while factitious disorder is driven by the need for emotional attention.

66
Q

What is Munchausen syndrome by proxy?

A

Munchausen syndrome by proxy involves inducing illness in others, typically children, to gain attention.

67
Q

How is factitious disorder treated differently from other mental health disorders?

A

Treatment often involves psychotherapy to address underlying emotional issues, with a focus on building trust and empathy.

68
Q

What role does psychotherapy play in the treatment of somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

Psychotherapy, such as CBT, addresses the psychological distress underlying physical symptoms, helping to reduce anxiety and improve coping strategies.

69
Q

What is a common treatment for somatic symptom disorder?

A

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often used to challenge maladaptive thinking and reduce distressing symptoms.

70
Q

How does trauma-informed therapy help individuals with somatic symptom disorders?

A

It focuses on understanding and addressing the impact of past trauma on present symptoms and functioning.

71
Q

Why is relaxation therapy beneficial for somatic symptom disorders?

A

It helps reduce physical tension and anxiety, promoting better management of somatic symptoms.

72
Q

What role does mindfulness play in treating somatic symptom disorders?

A

Mindfulness helps individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, reducing distress and improving coping.

73
Q

What is biofeedback, and how is it used in treating somatic symptom disorders?

A

Biofeedback helps individuals monitor and control physiological functions like heart rate, helping to manage stress and physical symptoms.

74
Q

What is the importance of patient-centered care in somatic symptom disorders?

A

It focuses on building trust and empathy between the clinician and patient, leading to better treatment outcomes.

75
Q

How do cultural beliefs influence the treatment of somatic symptom disorders?

A

Cultural beliefs should be considered in treatment to ensure it resonates with the patient’s worldview and improves outcomes.

76
Q

How does stigma affect individuals with somatic symptom disorders?

A

Stigma can lead to misunderstandings, shame, and reluctance to seek help, hindering recovery.

77
Q

What is the purpose of public education in relation to somatic symptom disorders?

A

Public education aims to reduce stigma and increase understanding of the psychological components of these disorders.

78
Q

What are some of the treatment options for somatic symptom and related disorders?

A

Treatment options include psychotherapy (CBT, insight-oriented therapy), medical management, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback.

79
Q

How does CBT help manage the symptoms of somatic symptom disorders?

A

CBT helps identify and challenge negative thinking patterns that exacerbate symptoms, leading to symptom relief.

80
Q

What is the role of family therapy in treating somatic symptom disorders?

A

Family therapy helps address family dynamics that may contribute to the disorder and support the individual in recovery.

81
Q

How are medical professionals involved in the treatment of somatic symptom disorders?

A

Medical professionals help rule out physical causes of symptoms and coordinate care between mental health and physical health providers.

82
Q

How does support from peer groups help in managing somatic symptom disorders?

A

Peer groups provide validation, reduce isolation, and offer emotional support from others with similar experiences.

Psychopathology (6 decks)

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