Ch. 20: Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Genuinely feeling distressing symptoms without significant physical findings

diagnostics show you're fine.

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Misinterpretation of physical symptoms

- will think symptoms will lead to a deadly disease

- resort to google when something is discomforting.

- they don't do anything abt it

Conversion Disorder

Really intense emotional conflict channel towards physical symptoms

- Examples of physical symptoms

- loss of senses, no voice, paralysis

! Rule out physiologic symptoms first !

Factitious Disorder

Artificially, deliberately, and dramatically inflicting injury and illness (malingering)

There is always an ulterior motive

Has to happen continuously to be considered a disorder.

Types:

Munchausen

Munchausen by Proxy

Dissociation

Involves separating ideas and memories from events and experiences

too much dissociating can cause amnesia and reduced consciousness.

ALWAYS CAUSED BY TRAUMA

Dissociative Amnesia

Extreme trauma to the point where they cannot recall things

rule out substance abuse or other medical conditions.

Dissociative Fugue

Sudden, unexpected travel away from communityb new identity can even be made

You forget who you are and run away to another life

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Presence of two or more distinct personality states called 'alters'

each alter has its own personality and way of perceiving things

something traumatic causes a switch in alters

make sure to address both the host and their alters "Hey guys"

Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder

Depersonalization: individual doesn't feel like a physical person (yourself)

Derealization: individual doesn't feel like the world around them exists.

Malingering

Deliberately inflicting injury and illness for an ulterior motive.

Munchausen

A type of factitious disorder where an individual acts as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick.

Munchausen by proxy

A type of factitious disorder where a caregiver deliberately causes or exaggerates illness in a person under their care.

Emotional conflicts

Intense feelings that can channel towards physical symptoms in conversion disorder.

Amnesia

A condition where a person is unable to recall past experiences, often due to trauma.

Alters

Distinct personality states present in dissociative identity disorder.

Trauma

An emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that can lead to various mental health disorders.