Somatoform Disorders Flashcards
Somatoform Disorders
- what is the main idea behind these disorders?
- What are the somatoform disorders?
- etiologies
What: physical complaints without a medical condition, preoccupation with health or body appearance.
Types:
- somatic symptom disorder
- conversion disorder
- illness anxiety disorder
- other specified somatic sx and related disorder.
Etiologies:
- psychoanaytic theory: controlling repressed sexual urges
- Behavior theory: malingering, social learning and reinforcement, secondary gain
Somatic Symptom Disorder:
- sx
- tx
- course
- cause
Sx:
- they believe their sx are real.
- need to be sick, becoming physically sick is less stressful than being unsuccessful.
- symptoms suggest physical disorder though they cannot be adequately explained physiologically
- sx are often described as dramatic
- other disorders such as anxiety, mood disorders, and personality disorders can co-exist
Tx:
- CBT
- reduce visits to numerous medical specialists, assign one main PCP.
Course: chronic
Causes;
- FHx
- relation with antisocial personality disorder
Conversion Disorder:
- what is the basis of this disorder?
- course
- Causes
- Tx
-Physical sx suggesting neurological problems without corresponding physical pathology; sensory impairment, paresthesias, blindness, paralysis
*Affected ppl are genuinely unaware that they can function normally.
(Sx are real for the pt)
Course: sudden onset, sudden termination, sudden reappearance.
Causes:
- past trauma and conversion
- secondary gains
Tx:
- CBT; emphasis on resolving life stress or conflict and reducing help-seeking behavior
- core strategy is attending to the trauma
- remove success of secondary gains
Illness Anxiety Disorder:
- aka
- what is the basis of this disorder?
- course
- sx
aka: hypochondriasis
Basis: worried about the possibility of being sick. No physical symptoms are necessary
- over reports bodily sensations
- preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness.
Course: chronic but waxes and wanes
Sx:
- fears of aging and death
- doctor shopping
- poor relationships with providers
- past experience with dz, family andd work problems
- severe anxiety with no insight
- functional losses (cant go to work, take care of kids, etc)
Illness Anxiety Disoder:
- causes
- tx
cause: cognitive perceptual distortions, FHx of illness, increased cortisol levels
Tx:
- challenge illness-related misinterpretations
- provide more substantial and sensitive reassurance
Other specified somatic sx and related disorder:
-criteria
-
Criteria:
- brief somatic sx disorder less than 6mo
- brief illness anxiety disorder less than 6 mo
- illness anxiety disorder without excessive health related behaviours
- Pseudocyesis (false belief you are pregnant)
- cause distress but dont fit anywhere else.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder:
- what is this recognized as in DSM V?
- what is the basis for this disorder?
- sx
- causes
- tx
Recognized as obsessive compulsive spectrum
Basis:
-excessive concern with real or imagined defects in appearance, especially facial marks or features
Sx:
- frequent visits to plastic surgeons
- preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance, this is distressing and impairs functioning
- either fixation with or avoidance of mirrors
- suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors
- excessive checking/grooming
Causes;
-unknown, genetic/developmental/psychosocial/cultural
Tx:
- CBT
- SSRI
- surgery not helpful
