Unexplained symptoms - differentials

Question 1

Somatisation disorder?

Answer 1

• multiple physical SYMPTOMS present for at least 2 years

- patient refuses to accept reassurance or negative test results

Question 2

Illness anxiety disorder (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

Conversion disorder

Answer 3

• typically involves loss of motor or sensory function

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

Question 4

Dissociative disorder

Answer 4

• ‘separating off’ certain memories from normal consciousness
  =- in contrast to conversion disorder involves psychiatric symptoms e.g. Amnesia, fugue, stupor

Question 5

Factitious disorder

Answer 5

also known as Munchausen’s syndrome

the intentional production of physical or psychological symptoms

Question 6

Malingering

Answer 6

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