Week 9: Somatic and Dissociative Disorders Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is Somatic Symptom Disorder?
a disorder in which physical symptoms are present that are due to psychological rather than physical causes
- involves bodily symptoms that cannot be explained by known medical conditions
- patients are convinced that their symptoms stem from physical disorder / cause
What are the two types of somatic symptom disorder?
- Illness Anxiety Disorder
- Conversion Disorder
What is Illness Anxiety Disorder?
A disorder in which individuals are pre-occupied with their health and are convinced that they have some serious disorder
- not easily treatable
What is Conversion Disorder?
A disorder in which a loss of motor or sensory functioning in some part of the body has no physical cause but solves some psychological problem
Often acts as an unconscious defence for intolerable anxiety situations that the individual cannot escape from
EX. soldier who fears going into battle may escape the anxiety by developing a paralysis or some other physically disabling symptom
What is “La Belle Indifference”?
Patients with conversion disorder exhibit indifference to their symptoms and tend to enjoy the attention and sympathy their disability brings them.
What is Dissociative Disorder?
A disorder in which, under stress, one loses the integration of consciousness, identity, and memories of important events
Is often a response to unbearable stress and provides a mental escape to intolerable circumstances
What is Dissociative Amnesia?
Disorder in which there is a loss of memory for limited periods in one’s life or for one’s entire personal identity
Cause: traumatic experience or an unbearable anxiety situation which causes the person to escape by forgetting
Individuals do not forget how to carry out routine tasks and their basic personality remains the same accept in extreme cases.
What is Dissociative Fungue?
An extreme subset of dissociative amnesia in which one not only has complete loss of memory for one’s entire identity but also travels away from home and assumes a new identity (usually more outgoing and less inhibited)
How long can a dissociative state last?
hours, days or months
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
multiple personality disorder in which two or more distinct personalities occur in the same individual, each taking over at different times.
Changes in personality occur during times of stress
Over 50% of cases involve over 10 different personalities
Is often misdiagnosed as schizophrenia because it is common to hear voices
There is a common complaint of “lost time”
What are the causes of Dissociative Disorders?
Early trauma
The link between trauma and disorders supports the view that these disorders should be thought of as manifestations of PTSD rather than diagnoses in their own right.
What is the psychodynamic cause of dissociative disorders?
repressed thoughts and behaviour is the primary defence mechanism to reduce emotional pain
What is the cognitive and behavioural cause of dissociative disorders?
trauma related thought avoidance is negatively reinforced by reduction in anxiety and emotional pain.
What is the biological cause of dissociative disorders?
support for brain activity differences in body awareness has been found in individuals with dissociative disorders
What is the best form of treatment for dissociative disorders?
psychotherapy
