Untitled Flashcard Set
Chapter 8 – Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders Flashcards
Core Concepts
Q: What is the central feature of somatic symptom and related disorders?
A: Psychological distress that presents as physical symptoms.
Q: What does it mean if symptoms are “not intentionally produced”?
A: The individual is not consciously faking or exaggerating symptoms.
Q: Why is intent important in diagnosing somatic disorders?
A: Intent distinguishes genuine disorders from malingering and factitious disorder.
Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD)
Q: What defines somatic symptom disorder?
A: One or more distressing physical symptoms with excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to the symptoms.
Q: Do symptoms in somatic symptom disorder need to be medically unexplained?
A: No — symptoms may or may not have a medical explanation.
Q: What is the most important diagnostic feature of SSD?
A: Disproportionate distress, anxiety, and preoccupation with symptoms.
Q (Scenario):
A woman has chronic pain from an old injury but spends hours worrying about it and repeatedly seeks reassurance despite stable medical findings. What diagnosis is most likely?
A: Somatic symptom disorder.
Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD)
Q: What is the defining feature of illness anxiety disorder?
A: Excessive fear of having or developing a serious illness with minimal or no physical symptoms.
Q: How does illness anxiety disorder differ from somatic symptom disorder?
A: SSD focuses on physical symptoms; IAD focuses on fear of illness.
Q (Scenario):
A man believes he has cancer despite repeated normal tests and minimal physical symptoms. He constantly checks his body and seeks reassurance. Diagnosis?
A: Illness anxiety disorder.
Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)
Q: What characterizes conversion disorder?
A: Neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by medical findings.
Q: Common symptoms of conversion disorder include:
A: Paralysis, blindness, seizures, inability to speak, loss of sensation.
Q: Are symptoms in conversion disorder intentionally produced?
A: No.
Q (Scenario):
After a traumatic event, a woman suddenly becomes unable to walk. Medical tests show no neurological damage. Likely diagnosis?
A: Conversion disorder.
Psychophysiological Disorders
Q: What are psychophysiological disorders?
A: Genuine physical illnesses that are worsened by psychological factors.
Q: Give examples of psychophysiological disorders.
A: Asthma, ulcers, eczema, high blood pressure worsened by stress.
Q (Scenario):
A man’s asthma symptoms worsen during periods of high anxiety, even though he has a confirmed diagnosis. What is this an example of?
A: Psychophysiological disorder.
Factitious Disorder
Q: What is factitious disorder?
A: Intentional falsification or induction of illness symptoms to assume the sick role.
Q: What motivates individuals with factitious disorder?
A: Psychological desire to be seen as ill (attention, sympathy).
Q: Is there an external reward in factitious disorder?
A: No.
Q (Scenario):
A nurse secretly injects herself with bacteria to be hospitalized and receive care. What diagnosis fits best?
A: Factitious disorder.
Malingering
Q: What is malingering?
A: Intentional production or exaggeration of symptoms for external gain.
Q: What external incentives are common in malingering?
A: Money, avoiding work, legal benefits, avoiding military duty.
Q: Is malingering considered a mental disorder?
A: No.
Q (Scenario):
A man exaggerates back pain after an accident to receive disability compensation. Diagnosis?
A: Malingering.
Key Comparisons (High-Yield Exam Cards)
Q:
Intentional symptoms + external incentives = ?
A: Malingering.
Q:
Intentional symptoms + no external incentives = ?
A: Factitious disorder.
Q:
Unintentional symptoms + neurological presentation = ?
A: Conversion disorder.
Q:
Unintentional symptoms + excessive health anxiety = ?
A: Somatic symptom disorder or illness anxiety disorder.
Theoretical Explanations
Q: How does the psychodynamic perspective explain somatic disorders?
A: Psychological conflict is converted into physical symptoms.
Q: How does the cognitive-behavioral perspective explain somatic disorders?
A: Misinterpretation of bodily sensations and reinforcement of symptom-focused behavior.
Treatment
Q: What is the most effective treatment for somatic symptom disorders?
A: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Q: Why is reducing medical visits often part of treatment?
A: Excessive reassurance can reinforce symptom focus.
Q: What is a key treatment goal across somatic disorders?
A: Improving coping and reducing distress, not eliminating all symptoms.
Exam Tips (Flashcard-Style)
Q: What should you always ask first when diagnosing somatic disorders?
A: Are symptoms intentionally produced?
Q: What is the MOST common exam mistake with Chapter 8?
A: Confusing illness anxiety disorder with somatic symptom disorder.