somatic symptom disorder

somatic symptom disorder

A. distressing somatic symptoms (/causing significant disruption in daily life)

B. excessive thoughts, feelings or behavior related to these somatic symptoms or associated health concerns shown by at leats one of the following:

• disproportionate and persistent thoughts about the seriousness of symptoms

• persistently high level of anxiety about health or symptoms

• excessive time and energy devoted to these symptoms or health concerns

C. symptoms may not be continuously present, but disorder is persistent (>6 months)

functional symptoms

disturbance of normal functioning of bodily processes

somatization

a psychological problem or emotional disorder is expressed somatically

illness anxiety disorder

A. preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness

B. somatic symptoms are not present/ pre occupation is clearly excessive or disproportionate

C. there is a high level of anxiety about health (easily alarmed)

D. excessive health related behaviors/ maladaptive avoidance

E. > 6 months

F. not better explained by another mental disorder

• care seeking type

• care avoidant type

somatoform disorder

• repeated presentation of somatic symptoms

• demand for medical examination despite lack of any organic findings

• denied emotional problems (although there is a close relationship symptoms - psychosocial life) (somatic fixation)

• doctor-patient relationship is characterised by disappointment and frustration

undifferentiated somatoform disorder

multiple somatoform symptoms for at least 6 months

somatoform autonomic dysfunction

of the vegetatively supplied organ (specific one)

hypochondrias

the patient is excessively occupied over long periods of time with the possibility of suffering from one or more serious, progressing physical diseases. Everyday physical sensations are misinterpreted as threatening and stressful.

body dysmorphic disorder

the body is interpreted as being deformed. This is usually accompanied by a desire for cosmetic surgery.

somatic symptoms and related disorders

Emphasis was placed on the fact that some somatic symptoms were associated with behaviors and experiences that were a source of disability for the patient

IAD - explanantion

previous experience

formation of dysfunctional beliefs

incident of symptoms which suggests illness

activation of dysfunctional beliefs

automatic thoughts

→ health anxiety/hypochondriasis/ illness anxiety disorder

amplification of perception of somatic sensation

• hypervigilance or heightened attentional focus on somatic sensationa

• tendency to select and concentrate on certain relatively weak and infrequent sensations

• disposition to react to somatic sensations with affect and cognition that makes them alarming

→ attritional to serious disease

CBT + IAD

misinterpretation of bodily symptoms, identification and modification of less helpful behavioral and cognitive patterns and generating alternative explanatory models for symptoms and psychological distress.