Somatic Symptoms and Dissociative Disorders

Question 1

An Overview of Somatic Symptom Disorders

Answer 1

As a theme, these disorders involve the expression of physical symptoms (that may have physical or psychological causes), or significant anxiety about health and bodily functioning

Question 2

Somatic refers to…

Answer 2

“BODY”

Question 3

Somatic Symptom Disorders

Answer 3

Somatic Symptom Disorder (Predominantly somatic, or with pain features); Illness Anxiety Disorder, Conversion Disorder, Factitious Disorder

Question 4

Somatic Symptom Disorder Clinical Description

Answer 4

Medical symptom(s) with unusual frequency or intensity for at least 6 months (often years); The response to the symptoms is excessive, such that it often becomes that person’s “identity”; “Predominantly somatic type” or “with pain features” subtype

Question 5

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Answer 5

Severe anxiety about the possibility of having a serious disease (despite evidence to the contrary); The worry is not so much about the symptoms themselves but the implications of the symptoms (e.g., “it’s very serious,” or “I’m going to die from this.”); Cognitive distortions are very common, and medical reassurance does not always help

Question 6

Conversion Disorder Clinical Description

Answer 6

A neurological malfunction that lacks a specific medical cause; Freud said these people “convert” unconscious anxiety into a physical symptom; Today, we have evidence that symptoms can be intermittent and usually precipitated by marked stress; Important to distinguish from “malingering”

Question 7

Malingering

Answer 7

The fabrication, intentional production, or significant exaggeration of physical or psychological symptoms (what is happening to them medically)

Question 8

Factitious Disorder Clinical Description

Answer 8

Symptoms of illness (mental or physical) are deliberately induced or simulated with the goal of eliciting attention; Can be imposed onto another (e.g., a child); Like conversion disorder, this is also not malingering (Lying/Addicted to being cared for medically)

Question 9

An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

Answer 9

Involve severe alterations to or detachments from reality

Affect identity, memory, or consciousness most strongly

Question 10

An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

Answer 10

Dissociative amnesia (Localized, generalized, or fugue); Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder; Dissociative Identity Disorder (As a group, can be tough to identify/diagnose because we lack objective assessments rely mostly on personal reports)

Question 11

Dissociative Amnesia

Answer 11

Sudden partial or total loss of personal info and memory (Not due to physical injury, but rather a psychological stressor or trauma); Generalized vs. Localized Subtypes; Fugue subtype

Question 12

Generalized Subtype of Dissociative Amnesia

Answer 12

xxx

Question 13

Localized Subtypes of Dissociative Amnesia

Answer 13

Localized may be selective to certain details

Question 14

Fugue Subtype of Dissociative Amnesia

Answer 14

The amnesia is accompanied by some form of travel

Question 15

Depersonalization Disorder: An Overview/ Defining Features

Answer 15

Severe and frightening episodes of feeling “unreal” or “detached” from oneself; Also includes experiences of derealization (a change in perception); Can be fairly intense and anxiety-provoking

Question 16

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Answer 16

Formerly known as “multiple personality disorder”
Defining feature is disruption (fragmentation) of identity (And may include experiences of possession); Number of identities varies a lot (avg is about 12); Identities may display unique behaviors, voice, posture, even physiological reactions (And may be aware of one another, but not always)

Question 17

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Terms

Answer 17

Host, Alters, Switch

Question 18

Host

Answer 18

The more common personality

Question 19

Alters

Answer 19

Different identities or personalities

Question 20

Switch

Answer 20

Transition (often quick) from one personality to another

Question 21

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Causes

Answer 21

Histories of horrible, unspeakable trauma are typical (mechanism to escape?); Vulnerability plays a role here (suggestibility)

Question 22

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Treatment

Answer 22

Focus is identifying and coping with the underlying trauma (trauma-focused CBT); Emphasize safety, stability (integration of identities), and healthy relationships

Question 23

Factitious Disorder Primary Gain

Answer 23

”Someone else loves and cares about me”

Question 24

Factitious Disorder Secondary Gain

Answer 24

Receiving Drugs or Money

Question 25

Somatic Symptom Disorder used to be known as…

Answer 25

Somatization Disorder (DSM-IV)

Question 26

To be diagnosed with Somatization Disorder (the old name for Somatic Symptom Disorder) and individual must have…

Answer 26

Had several sensory, reproductive. GI, ect problems before the age of 30 and continuing on)

Question 27

Somatic Symptom Disorder with Predominant Pain Type

Answer 27

A condition involving excessive anxiety or persistent concerns over pain that appears to have no physical basis

Question 28

“Predominantly Somatic Type” of Somatic Symptom Disorder

Answer 28

Involves a variety of complaints affecting different body systems