Abnormal Psych Exam 2

Dissociative Identity Disorder

at least 2 personalities within a person with well defined traits and memories

Dissociative Amnesia

memory loss with no organic cause, usually associated with traumatic events.

types: localized, selective, generalized, continuous, systematic

Dissociative fugue

sudden fleeing, traveling to a new place, assuming a new identity without other signs of mental disturbance

Depersonalization

Temporary loss/change in usual sense of self

Derealization

Detachment from external world

Culture-bound dissociative Syndromes

Amok, Zar

Psychodynamic view on Dissociative Disorders

Repression: defense against troubling memories

Social-Cognitive view on Dissociative Disorders

Distraction as a learned response to stress

Role-playing acquired through observational learning and reinforcement

Biological view on Dissociative Disorders

Structural differences in memory and emotion

Brain metabolic differences

Sleep disruption

Diathesis-Stress model on Dissociative Disorders

Childhood maltreatment, severe abuse

Fantasizing, hypnotizable individuals

Treatment for Dissociative Disorders

Focus on related anxiety, depression

Focus on integrating personalities together

May focus on trauma

Somatic Symptom Disorder

complaints of physical symptoms (6 months) without identifiable physical cause — rooted in psychology

Illness Anxiety Disorder (hypochondriasis)

Preoccupation with the belief that one is seriously ill

• emphasis on anxiety associated with illness, rather than symptoms themselves

• may be care-seeking or care-avoidant

Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (conversion disorder)

Loss/impairment of a physical function without medical cause

Factitious Disorder (Munchausen’s or Munchausen’s by proxy)

Intentional fabrication of psychological/physical symptoms for no apparent gain. can be imposed on self or on another

Psychodynamic view on Somatic Symptom Disorders

Hysterical symptoms are functional - primary and secondary gain

Social-Cognitive view on Somatic Symptom Disorders

Focus on reinforcing properties of symptom

• help avoid/escape anxiety inducing situations

• relief from responsibilities

Cognitions: self-handicapping

Treatment for Somatic Symptom Disorders

Behavioral - look into external world factors

Cognitive (CBT) - look into cognitions

Headaches

in absence of other symptoms, might be classified as stress-related