Somatic and Dissociative Disorders Flashcards
(35 cards)
What are the essential diagnostic criteria for Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD)?
1+ distressing/disruptive somatic symptom
At least one indicator of excessive thoughts/feelings/behaviors about the symptom(s)
Persistent symptomatology (usually 6+ months)
Excessive thoughts may include disproportionate seriousness of the symptom, high anxiety about health, and excessive time devoted to the symptom.
What is the common feature of Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders?
Prominence of somatic/health-related symptoms associated with significant distress or impairment.
Differentiate between Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) and Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD).
SSD: Distressing physical complaint with an excessive response; IAD: Preoccupation with having a serious illness without distressing physical complaint.
What are the two types of Factitious Disorder?
- Imposed on oneself (Munchausen’s Syndrome)
- Imposed on another (Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy)
What is the primary gain for individuals with Factitious Disorder?
Attention and being in the sick role.
What are the key indicators of factitious illnesses?
- Unexplained persistent/recurrent symptoms
- Inconsistent history
- Dramatic presentation of severe symptoms
- Symptoms influenced by observation
- Insistence on a particular treatment
What is the general cause of dissociative disorders?
Psychological factors, often related to stress.
What is the difference between depersonalization and derealization?
Depersonalization: Experiences of unreality or detachment from oneself; Derealization: Experiences of unreality or detachment from the environment.
What are the diagnostic criteria for Dissociative Amnesia?
Memory loss for autobiographical information not caused by another disorder with types: localized, selective, generalized.
What distinguishes Dissociative Amnesia from organically-based amnesia?
Dissociative Amnesia has no difficulty learning new information, while organically-based amnesia does.
What are the treatment approaches for Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders?
- Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Family therapy
- Medication (anti-anxiety/antidepressants in extreme cases)
What is the typical onset and course of Conversion Disorder?
Typically sudden onset after a major psychological stressor, often with a short duration without recurrence.
Define malingering.
Faking/inducing physical or psychological symptoms for external rewards.
What are the major symptoms of Conversion Disorder?
- Weakness or paralysis
- Loss of balance
- Difficulty swallowing
- Abnormal movements
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems
- Speech problems
- Numbness
What is the main goal of treatment for Conversion Disorder?
To elucidate and acknowledge any emotional basis to the symptoms.
What characterizes Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?
Disruption of identity characterized by 2+ distinct personality states and inability to recall personal information.
What are the risk factors for developing Dissociative Identity Disorder?
- Childhood psychological trauma
- Lack of social support
- Poor coping skills
What is the typical treatment for Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Long-term psychotherapy (CBT) to integrate personalities, with a strong therapeutic alliance.
What is the difference between localized and selective dissociative amnesia?
Localized: Total loss of memory during a specific period; Selective: Some limited recall during a specific period.
What is the concept of dissociation?
A splitting off from conscious awareness an aspect of self, often as a coping strategy for stress.
True or False: The focus of SSD diagnosis is on whether there is a medical explanation for the somatic symptoms.
False.
Fill in the blank: The female to male ratio for Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders is _______.
10:1
What neurobiological changes are implicated in dissociative disorders?
Recent research implicates the hippocampus
The hippocampus is crucial for memory formation and retrieval, which may relate to dissociative symptoms.
What is the primary treatment for Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Long-term psychotherapy (CBT) to integrate personalities
A strong therapeutic alliance is required for effective treatment.
