Somatic Symptom Disorders

Question 1

General Characteristics

Answer 1

=bodily symptoms suggest the presence of a medical condition, but no obvious medical explanations can account for the pattern
=medical knowledge can’t account for everything
-at least some people who have a poorly physical disorder that we don’t know yet

Question 2

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Answer 2

A. one or more somatic symptoms that are distressing and/or result in significant disruption in daily life
B. excessive thoughts, feelings, behaviors related to these somatic symptoms and associated health concerns
1. disproportionate and persistent thoughts about the seriousness of one’s symptoms
2. persistently high level of anxiety about health over symptoms
3. excessive time and energy devoted to these symptoms and health concerns
C. chronicity: although one symptom may not be continually present, the state of being symptomatic is persistent > 6months

Question 3

Do patients have control over his/her symptoms?

Answer 3

=no, the patient is not faking for the benefits of the “sick role”
-factitious disorder
=is not faking for external incentives
-malingering

Question 4

Patient characteristics

Answer 4

=more likely to be
-female
-nonwhite
-less educated
-experience body sensations as aversive, intense, or disturbing: normal things like ear popping are seen as brain tumor
=tend to doctor shop
-keep finding a new doc when one does not find anything wrong
-are not comforted by doc not finding anything

Question 5

What are some examples?

Answer 5

=Hypochondriass
-preoccupation with contracting or having a disease
=Somatization Disorder
-many different components in multiple domains

Question 6

Pain Disorder

Answer 6

=persistent and severe pain in one or more areas of the body
=not intentionally produced and not feigned

Question 7

Conversion Disorder

Answer 7

=symptoms (sensory or motor) that strongly suggest a neurological/medical cause
=pattern cannot be explained by known medical conditions
=seen in soldiers
-up to 50% of patients at neurology clinics, but only .005% of the general population
=occurs after stress and then resolves as stress resolves
-but can reoccur if stressors reappear

Question 8

Le Roy High School

Answer 8

= 12 high school girls with same symptoms
-tics and stuttering
=caused by external stress –> problems are psychological not physical