Medical Psychology: The Psychosomatic (Somatoform) Concept of Medicine

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards based on Medical Psychology Week 10 lecture notes, covering psychosomatic definitions, DSM classifications, psychological theories of somatic symptoms, and specific clinical manifestations.

Psychosomatic medicine

An interdisciplinary medical field studying the relationships of social, psychological, and behavioral factors on human bodily processes and well-being.

Psyche and Soma

Derived from Greek; $\text{psyche}$ meaning soul and $\text{soma}$ meaning body, referring to how the mind affects the body.

$$1818$$

The year the term "Psychosomatic" was first used by a German psychiatrist.

Interdisciplinary

Relating to more than one branch of knowledge.

Prevalence of Somatic Symptom Disorder

Occurs in about $5\%$ to $7\%$ of the general population.

Gender Prevalence in Somatic Pain

Women have somatic pain about $10$ times more often than men.

DSM-IV Psychosomatic (Somatoform) Disorder Definition

The presence of one or more physical symptoms without an adequate medical explanation that causes severe distress or impairment in functioning.

DSM-II ($1968$) Psychosomatic Disorders

Symptoms caused by emotional factors involving a single organ system, usually under autonomic nervous innervations.

Biopsychosocial Model

Determines psychosomatic illness through physiological predispositions combined with psychological stress.

Psychoanalytic Theory (Freud)

The core idea that psychosomatic symptoms are unconscious expressions of psychological conflict, often stemming from repressed emotions or trauma.

Behavioral Theory

The view that physical symptoms are learned behaviors reinforced through the environment, such as by receiving attention or avoiding responsibility.

Cognitive Theory

Suggests that the way a person interprets bodily sensations and thinks about their health (e.g., catastrophizing) contributes to somatic symptoms.

Attachment Theory

Suggests people with insecure attachment styles from early childhood may express emotional needs through physical symptoms if emotional expression was discouraged.

Strict Reductionists View

The belief that all mental processes can be explained in terms of brain processes.

Emergent Process View

The belief that some mental processes will never be fully explainable by analysis of brain function.

Independence View

The belief that the mind is something altogether other than brain function.

Somatization disorder

The expression of personal and social distress in bodily complaints including vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, and various localized pains without medical explanation.

Conversion Disorder

A disturbance of body functioning, usually neurological (motor or sensory), that does not conform to current anatomy and physiology concepts and typically occurs under stress.

Hypochondriasis disorder

A condition defined by DSM-IV and ICD-10 as a preoccupation with fear or belief of having a serious disease based on misinterpreted physical signs, despite medical reassurance.

Pain Disorder

A condition where the predominant complaint is chronic pain for several months that has no medical explanation and is associated with psychological factors.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

A mental health condition where a person spends significant time worrying about flaws in their appearance that are often unnoticeable to others.

Diagnosis Criteria for Somatic Symptom Disorder

Requires one or more distressing symptoms, a history of those symptoms for at least $6$ months, and persistent anxiety about the symptoms.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

A gastrointestinal disorder involving abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation linked to stress.

Hypertension

High blood pressure that is often associated with chronic stress.

Hyperventilation Syndrome

Rapid breathing due to anxiety, leading to dizziness or numbness.

Psychogenic Seizures

Seizure-like episodes caused by psychological stress, also known as Non-Epileptic Seizures.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Extreme tiredness not explained by medical conditions, often linked to psychological stress and inflammation of nerves.

Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome

Pain caused by pressure on sensitive trigger points in muscles, which can cause referred pain in unrelated body parts.

Phantom pain

Feeling pain in a body part that is no longer there, potentially involving eyes, teeth, nose, and tongue.

Burning mouth syndrome (Glossodynia)

Recurring burning sensation in the mouth without an obvious cause, often involving a taste disorder where foods taste sour, sweet, bitter, or metallic.

Bruxism Effects

Force from clenching and grinding that can damage teeth's supporting tissues, deepen periodontal pockets, and loosen teeth.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis

The presence of small, painful canker sores or stickers inside the mouth that typically begin in childhood and recur frequently.

Carcinophobia

The fear of getting cancer; also known as cancer phobia.

Delusional halitosis

An individual's belief that they have an offensive mouth odor that cannot be perceived by others.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A four-step treatment (assessment, formulation, cognitive restructuring, behavioral change) aimed at altering negative thoughts and dysfunctional attitudes.