Untitled Flashcard Set

What is the central feature of Somatic symptom and related disorders

Psychological distress that presents as physical symptoms.

Not intentionally produced symptoms

The individual is not consciously faking or exaggerating symptoms.

Importance of intent in diagnosing somatic disorders

Intent distinguishes genuine disorders from malingering and factitious disorder.

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD)

One or more distressing physical symptoms with excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to the symptoms.

Medical explanation necessity in SSD

No — symptoms may or may not have a medical explanation.

Key feature of SSD

Disproportionate distress, anxiety, and preoccupation with symptoms.

A woman has chronic pain from an old injury but spends hours worrying about it and repeatedly seeks reassurance despite stable medical findings. What diagnosis is most likely?

Somatic symptom disorder.

Illness anxiety disorder (IAD)

Excessive fear of having or developing a serious illness with minimal or no physical symptoms.

Difference between SSD and IAD

SSD focuses on physical symptoms; IAD focuses on fear of illness.

A man believes he has cancer despite repeated normal tests and minimal physical symptoms. He constantly checks his body and seeks reassurance. Diagnosis?

Illness anxiety disorder.

Conversion disorder

Neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by medical findings.

Common symptoms of conversion disorder

Paralysis, blindness, seizures, inability to speak, loss of sensation.

Intentional production in conversion disorder

No.

After a traumatic event, a woman suddenly becomes unable to walk. Medical tests show no neurological damage. Likely diagnosis?

Conversion disorder.

Psychophysiological disorders

Genuine physical illnesses that are worsened by psychological factors.

Examples of psychophysiological disorders

Asthma, ulcers, eczema, high blood pressure worsened by stress.

A man’s asthma symptoms worsen during periods of high anxiety, even though he has a confirmed diagnosis. What is this an example of?

Psychophysiological disorder.

Factitious disorder

Intentional falsification or induction of illness symptoms to assume the sick role.

Motivation behind factitious disorder

Psychological desire to be seen as ill (attention, sympathy).

External reward in factitious disorder

No.

A nurse secretly injects herself with bacteria to be hospitalized and receive care. What diagnosis fits best?

Factitious disorder.

Malingering

Intentional production or exaggeration of symptoms for external gain.

Common external incentives in malingering

Money, avoiding work, legal benefits, avoiding military duty.

Malingering as a mental disorder

No.

Scenario: exaggerating pain for compensation

Malingering.

Intentional symptoms + external incentives = ?

Malingering.

Intentional symptoms + no external incentives = ?

Factitious disorder.

Unintentional symptoms + neurological presentation = ?

Conversion disorder.

Unintentional symptoms + excessive health anxiety = ?

Somatic symptom disorder or illness anxiety disorder.

Psychodynamic perspective on somatic disorders

Psychological conflict is converted into physical symptoms.

Cognitive-behavioral perspective on somatic disorders

Misinterpretation of bodily sensations and reinforcement of symptom-focused behavior.

Effective treatment for somatic symptom disorders

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Why is reducing medical visits involved in treatment

Excessive reassurance can reinforce symptom focus.

Key treatment goal for somatic disorders

Improving coping and reducing distress, not eliminating all symptoms.

First question in diagnosing somatic disorders

Are symptoms intentionally produced?

Common exam mistake in Chapter 8

Confusing illness anxiety disorder with somatic symptom disorder.

What is Munchausen syndrome?

A severe form of factitious disorder in which an individual intentionally produces or exaggerates physical or psychological symptoms to assume the sick role, without external incentives.

What is the primary motivation in Munchausen syndrome?

Psychological need for attention, care, or sympathy (not money or avoidance of responsibility)

How does Munchausen syndrome differ from malingering?

• Munchausen: No external reward

• Malingering: External gain (money, legal benefits, avoiding work)

A patient repeatedly visits hospitals, fabricates symptoms, and undergoes unnecessary medical procedures despite no tangible benefit. What diagnosis fits best?

Munchausen syndrome (factitious disorder imposed on self).

Is Munchausen syndrome considered a mental disorder in the DSM?

Yes, it is classified under Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self.

Intentional symptoms + no external incentives

Munchausen syndrome