unexplained symptoms

Question 1

what is somatisation disorder?

Answer 1

multiple physical SYMPTOMS present for at least 2 years

patient refuses to accept reassurance or negative test results

Question 2

what is hypochondriasis?

Answer 2

persistent belief in the presence of an underlying serious DISEASE, e.g. cancer

patient again refuses to accept reassurance or negative test results

Question 3

what is conversion disorder?

Answer 3

aka Functional neurological disorder

typically involves loss of motor or sensory function

the patient doesn’t consciously feign the symptoms (factitious disorder) or seek material gain (malingering)

patients may be indifferent to their apparent disorder - la belle indifference - although this has not been backed up by some studies

Question 4

what is dissociative disorder?

Answer 4

dissociation is a process of ‘separating off’ certain memories from normal consciousness

in contrast to conversion disorder involves psychiatric symptoms e.g. Amnesia, fugue, stupor

dissociative identity disorder (DID) is the new term for multiple personality disorder as is the most severe form of dissociative disorder

Question 5

what is factitious disorder?

Answer 5

also known as Munchausen’s syndrome

the intentional production of physical or psychological symptoms

Question 6

what is malingering?

Answer 6

fraudulent simulation or exaggeration of symptoms with the intention of financial or other gain