Somatoform disorders, factitious disorder and malingering Flashcards
What is a description of the somatoform disorders?
The somatoform disorders are a group of disorders in which there is a persistent pre-occupation with physical health and physical symptoms, but not psychological symptoms
What are the somatoform disorders?
1) Somatization disorder
2) Hypochondriacal disorder
3) Body dysmorphic disorder
4) Somatoform autonomic dysfunction
What is somatization disorder?
Characterised by a patient repeatedly presenting with physical symptoms and persistently requesting medical investigations, despite repeated negative findings and reassurances by doctors that the symptoms have no physical basis
What is a hypochondriacal disorder?
Occurs when one has a fixed belief that one has a severe disease
What is a somatoform autonomic dysfunction?
When symptoms are presented by the patient as if they were due to a physical disorder of a system or organ that is largely or completely under autonomic innervation and control
What is a conversion disorder?
When a stressor brings about the cute onset of neurological Sx with no identifiable organic cause. Patient is unconcerned and tends to recover spontaneously
What is another name for factitious disorder?
Munchausen syndrome
What is factitious disorder?
Patients intentionally falsify their symptoms and fabricate signs of physical or mental disorder with the primary aim of obtaining medical attention
How do factitious disorders differ from somatoform disorders?
Patients with factitious disorder INTENTIONALLY FALSIFY their Sx
What are the different types of factitious disorders?
- Wandering - male/dramatic stories
- Non-wandering - female/less dramatic/paramedical professions
- By-proxy
What is malingering?
Patients intentionally falsify for secondary gain, e.g. compensation
