ABPSYCH 3&4 PRELIM

What are somatic symptoms and related disorders characterized by?

Disproportionate responses to physical symptoms lasting at least six months, including exaggeration of causes, anxiety, seeking information, or avoidance of illness-related situations.

What is the primary focus for treatment in somatic symptom disorder?

Psychological experiences, especially anxiety and distress, despite the real and painful nature of physical symptoms.

What is somatic symptom disorder formerly known as?

Briquet's syndrome.

What are the diagnostic criteria for somatic symptom disorder?

A. One or more distressing somatic symptoms disrupting daily life. B. Excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to the symptoms. C. Persistent state of being symptomatic for more than six months.

What does the specifier 'with predominant pain' indicate in somatic symptom disorder?

It indicates that the somatic symptoms predominantly involve pain.

What characterizes a persistent course in somatic symptom disorder?

Severe symptoms, marked impairment, and long duration (more than six months).

How is the severity of somatic symptom disorder specified?

Mild: one symptom from Criterion B; Moderate: two or more symptoms from Criterion B; Severe: two or more symptoms from Criterion B plus multiple somatic complaints or one very severe symptom.

What is illness anxiety disorder formerly known as?

Hypochondriasis.

What characterizes illness anxiety disorder?

Severe anxiety focused on the possibility of having or developing a serious disease, with symptoms either absent or very mild.

What is the primary concern in illness anxiety disorder?

The fear of being sick rather than the physical symptoms themselves.

What is 'disease conviction' in the context of illness anxiety disorder?

A persistent belief in having a disease despite reassurances from multiple doctors.

What are the diagnostic criteria for illness anxiety disorder?

A. Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness. B. Somatic symptoms are not present or are only mild in intensity.

What is the role of dissociative experiences in relation to identity and consciousness?

Dissociative experiences are slight alterations in consciousness or identity that can become intense, leading to a loss of identity or memory.

How long must somatic symptoms last to be classified under somatic symptom disorder?

At least six months.

What might individuals with somatic symptom disorder do in response to their symptoms?

They may feel weak or ill, avoid exercise, or seek constant medical reassurance.

What is the significance of understanding somatic and dissociative disorders?

It provides insight into how normal traits can evolve into distorted and incapacitating disorders.

What is a common behavior exhibited by individuals with illness anxiety disorder?

They continue seeking medical reassurance and may demand unnecessary treatments.

What is the difference between somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder?

Somatic symptom disorder involves severe physical symptoms, while illness anxiety disorder involves severe anxiety about having a disease with either absent or mild symptoms.

What is the impact of psychological experiences on somatic symptom disorder?

Psychological experiences, especially anxiety and distress, are emphasized as primary treatment focuses.

What is the duration requirement for the state of being symptomatic in somatic symptom disorder?

Typically more than six months.

What might individuals with somatic symptom disorder devote excessive time and energy to?

Their symptoms or health concerns.

What is the role of psychopathologists in understanding somatic and dissociative disorders?

They have been intrigued by these disorders for centuries, seeking to understand their complexities.

What characterizes excessive illness preoccupation in individuals with health anxiety?

The preoccupation is excessive or disproportionate, especially if another medical condition is present or there is a high risk of developing one.

How is health anxiety expressed in individuals?

Individuals exhibit a high level of health anxiety and are easily alarmed about their personal health status.

What behaviors might individuals with illness anxiety disorder exhibit?

They may perform excessive health-related behaviors, such as repeatedly checking their body for signs of illness, or exhibit maladaptive avoidance, like avoiding doctor appointments.

How long must illness preoccupation be present for a diagnosis of illness anxiety disorder?

Illness preoccupation must be present for at least six months.

What distinguishes illness anxiety disorder from other mental disorders?

Another mental disorder, such as somatic symptom disorder or panic disorder, must not better explain the illness-related preoccupation.

What are the two types of care-seeking behavior in illness anxiety disorder?

Care-seeking type involves frequently using medical care, while care-avoidant type rarely uses medical care.

What is the relationship between psychological factors and medical conditions?

Psychological factors can adversely influence a diagnosed medical condition, such as severe anxiety worsening asthma.

What is the difference between psychological factors affecting medical conditions and adjustment disorders?

Psychological factors affecting medical conditions involve neglecting treatment impacting health, while adjustment disorders arise in response to severe medical conditions.

How can family influence the development of somatic symptom disorders?

Individuals may learn to focus their anxiety on specific physical conditions from family members, especially in response to stressful life events.

What is the 'sick role' phenomenon?

The 'sick role' refers to adopting behaviors that gain attention and avoid responsibilities, often influenced by family dynamics.

What is secondary gain in the context of illness?

Secondary gain refers to the positive outcomes, such as attention, that individuals may receive from being perceived as ill.

What treatment approaches are effective for somatic symptom and illness anxiety disorders?

Cognitive-behavioral approaches targeting dysfunctional stress coping, attentional processes, and illness-related cognitions are effective.

What is the role of support groups in treating illness anxiety disorders?

Support groups may provide reassurance to individuals dealing with these disorders.

What does conversion disorder involve?

Conversion disorder involves physical symptoms like paralysis or blindness without any physical pathology.

What is the DSM-5 term for conversion disorder?

The DSM-5 uses 'functional neurological symptom disorder' as a subtitle.

What symptoms can conversion disorder mimic?

It can mimic neurological diseases, including unexplained blindness, paralysis, and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

What is Globus hystericus?

Globus hystericus is a lump sensation in the throat associated with conversion disorder.

How did Freud contribute to the understanding of conversion disorder?

Freud popularized the term 'conversion,' suggesting anxiety from unconscious conflicts manifests as physical symptoms.

What might happen to the term 'conversion' in future DSM editions?

The term 'conversion' may be dropped due to its psychoanalytic roots.

What is the significance of CBT in treating somatic symptoms?

Cognitive-behavioral treatment has been explored in studies to challenge illness-related misinterpretations and reduce reassurance-seeking behaviors.

What is an example of a behavioral factor impacting a medical condition?

A patient with diabetes neglecting insulin level monitoring due to psychological factors.

What is the primary motivation behind malingering?

Malingerers are motivated by evading responsibilities or seeking personal gain.

What is la belle indifférence in the context of conversion reactions?

La belle indifférence refers to a perceived indifference to symptoms, once considered a hallmark of conversion reactions.

What did recent findings by Stone et al. (2006) reveal about la belle indifférence?

Only 21% of patients with conversion symptoms exhibited la belle indifférence, compared to 29% of patients with organic disease.

What role do psychosocial stressors play in conversion disorder?

Psychosocial stressors are pivotal risk factors, particularly in individuals struggling with emotion regulation.

What is the DSM-5 stance on linking conversion disorder to preceding stress?

The DSM-5 does not mandate a criterion linking conversion disorder to preceding stress.

What are the diagnostic criteria for conversion disorder?

A. One or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function. B. Evidence of incompatibility between the symptom and recognized conditions. C. No better explanation from another medical or mental disorder. D. Causes clinically significant distress or impairment.

What are the types of symptoms specified for conversion disorder?

Symptoms can include weakness or paralysis, abnormal movement, swallowing symptoms, speech symptoms, attacks or seizures, anesthesia or sensory loss, special sensory symptoms, and mixed symptoms.

What distinguishes acute episodes from persistent symptoms in conversion disorder?

Acute episodes have symptoms present for less than six months, while persistent symptoms occur for six months or more.

What is the significance of psychological stressors in conversion disorder?

Symptoms can be specified as with or without psychological stressors, indicating the potential influence of stress on the disorder.

What are the four stages in Freud's model of conversion disorder?

1. Traumatic event, 2. Repression of conflict to relieve anxiety, 3. Conversion as an escape, 4. Increased attention and sympathy.

What challenges Freud's notion of 'primary gain' in conversion disorder?

Empirical evidence suggests that traumatic events may lead to conversion symptoms as a socially acceptable escape, rather than solely for anxiety reduction.

What is factitious disorder, also known as Munchausen syndrome?

Factitious disorder involves faking an illness without an obvious reason, possibly to and receive attention.

Who was Baron von Münchhausen and how is he related to factitious disorder?

Baron von Münchhausen was a German nobleman known for exaggerating his war stories, which inspired the name for Munchausen syndrome.

How do the symptoms of factitious disorder compare to malingering?

Both involve voluntary control of symptoms, but factitious disorder lacks an obvious external incentive for producing symptoms.

What tragic aspect can factitious disorder extend to?

Factitious disorder may extend to other family members, affecting them as well.

What is the condition called when an adult deliberately makes someone else sick for attention?

Factitious disorder imposed on another, previously known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

What type of disorder is factitious disorder imposed on another considered?

An atypical form of child abuse.

What is the primary treatment approach for conversion disorder?

Identifying and addressing the traumatic or stressful life event.

What percentage of patients with motor behavior conversions respond well to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?

65%.

What was the effect of hypnosis on patients undergoing treatment for conversion disorder?

Hypnosis provided little or no additional benefit to cognitive-behavioral therapy.

What are dissociative experiences often marked by?

Feelings of detachment.

What is transient dissociation and how prevalent is it in the general population?

Transient dissociation occurs in about half of the general population, especially after traumatic events.

What happens during an episode of depersonalization?

The individual temporarily loses the sense of their reality, feeling as if they are watching themselves.

What occurs during an episode of derealization?

The individual loses the sense of the reality of the external world, experiencing things as dreamlike or distorted.

What is depersonalization-derealization disorder?

A rare disorder where feelings of unreality dominate an individual's life and prevent normal functioning.

What are the diagnostic criteria for depersonalization-derealization disorder?

A. Persistent or recurrent experiences of depersonalization, derealization, or both. B. Reality testing remains intact during experiences. C. Symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment. D. Not attributable to substance effects or another medical condition. E. Not better explained by another mental disorder.

What are the symptoms of depersonalization?

Experiences of unreality, detachment, or being an outside observer concerning one's thoughts, feelings, sensations, body, or actions.

What are the symptoms of derealization?

Experiences of unreality or detachment concerning surroundings, where individuals or objects appear unreal, dreamlike, or distorted.

What is the significance of intact reality testing in depersonalization-derealization disorder?

It indicates that the individual is aware that their experiences are not based in reality.

What types of distress can symptoms of depersonalization-derealization disorder cause?

Clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

What must be ruled out to diagnose depersonalization-derealization disorder?

The disturbance must not be attributable to the effects of a substance or another medical condition.

Which mental disorders should be considered before diagnosing depersonalization-derealization disorder?

Schizophrenia, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or another dissociative disorder.

What is dissociative amnesia?

A severe dissociative disorder characterized by an inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature.

What are the two main types of dissociative amnesia?

Generalized amnesia, which involves a complete inability to recall identity, and localized or selective amnesia, which involves failure to recall specific traumatic events.

What is generalized amnesia?

A type of dissociative amnesia where individuals cannot recall anything, including their own identity, which may be lifelong or extend from a recent period.

What is localized or selective amnesia?

A type of dissociative amnesia that involves failure to recall specific traumatic events that occur during a certain period.

What is dissociative fugue?

A subtype of dissociative amnesia characterized by memory loss related to unexpected travel or bewildered wandering, often accompanied by amnesia for identity.

What does the term 'fugue' mean in the context of dissociative fugue?

It means 'flight,' indicating that individuals may take off unexpectedly and later find themselves in a new place without memory of how they got there.

What are the diagnostic criteria for dissociative amnesia?

1. Inability to recall important autobiographical information inconsistent with ordinary forgetting. 2. Symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in functioning. 3. Disturbance not attributable to substance effects or medical conditions. 4. Not better explained by other disorders.

What is the average number of distinct identities in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?

Around 15, although individuals may manifest up to 100 distinct identities.

What are 'alters' in the context of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

The different identities or personalities that coexist within an individual with DID.

What is the defining feature of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

The fragmentation of identity, where certain aspects of a person's identity are dissociated.

What is a 'switch' in Dissociative Identity Disorder?

The transition from one personality to another, which is usually instantaneous.

How was the name of Multiple Personality Disorder changed in the DSM-IV?

It was changed to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) to reflect the nuanced nature of the identities.

What is the significance of amnesia in Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Amnesia is a criterion for DID, similar to dissociative amnesia, but in DID, identity is also fragmented.

What is the role of trauma in dissociative amnesia?

Trauma often triggers selective forgetting of specific events or memories.

What is the difference between dissociative amnesia and other disorders like PTSD?

Dissociative amnesia involves memory loss that is not better explained by PTSD or other specified disorders.

What are the implications of dissociative amnesia on social and occupational functioning?

The symptoms can cause clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning.

What are some physiological conditions that must be ruled out when diagnosing dissociative amnesia?

Substance effects, neurological conditions like seizures, and other medical conditions.

What is the relationship between dissociative amnesia and identity?

Dissociative amnesia can involve generalized amnesia for identity, affecting an individual's sense of self.

How does dissociative fugue typically manifest?

Individuals may leave an intolerable situation and travel unexpectedly, often assuming a new identity.

What is the importance of understanding the context of dissociative disorders?

Understanding the context helps in diagnosing and treating these complex psychological conditions.

What can trigger dissociative fugue episodes?

Intolerable situations or stressors that lead individuals to escape their current circumstances.

What is the impact of media portrayals on perceptions of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Media often dramatizes switches between personalities, which can misrepresent the disorder's reality.

What characterizes the disruption of identity in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?

Two or more distinct personality states, marked discontinuity in sense of self and agency, and alterations in affect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition, and/or sensory-motor functioning.

What are some physical transformations that may occur during switches in DID?

Changes in posture, facial expressions, patterns of facial wrinkling, and even physical disabilities.

What is one of the diagnostic criteria for DID regarding memory gaps?

Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.