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Somatoform Disorders

(SOMATIC DISORDERS)

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Definition

  • A category of psychiatric disorder characterized by conversion of emotional distress into physical symptoms or by symptoms of physical illness that have no discernible organic cause.

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What is it?

  • Can also be called psychosomatic disorders
  • Symptoms cannot be traced to a physical cause
  • Many tests and medical evaluations are done to be sure that they don’t have another illness
  • Become worried because they don’t know what it causing problems
  • Similar to the symptoms of other illnesses and may last for several years

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Continue

  • Not faking their pain or symptoms, everything they feel is real
  • Don’t tell them their pains are imaginary, most symptoms are psychological
  • Runs in families, they tend to come and go over time
  • The obstacle in this disorder is to treat and diagnosis it.

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Major Components

  • 2 major parts

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  • Conversion disorder, and Hypochondriasis

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Conversion Disorder

  • Involves motor and sensory problems
  • May suggest a neurological condition
  • Impaired social,, occupational and personal ability to function
  • Sensory impairment: tingling, and strong stimulations
  • Motor impairment: arms, legs, vocal chords tremors and involuntary twitches

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Hypochondriasis

  • Preoccupied with fear of having a serious disease
  • misinterpretation of bodily functions
  • Minor abnormalities
  • Problems continue without any changes

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Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Occurs when a person is obsessed with a minor or non-existent flaw in his/her physical appearance e.g.

  • Wrinkles
  • Hair-loss
  • Weight gain
  • Size and shape of features like eyes, nose and breasts.

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Symptoms

  • Symptoms range from pain, gastrointestinal, sexual and pseudoneurological

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  • Will have experienced at least 8 different types of symptoms

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  • This is a sign of somatoform disorder

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Pain Symptoms

  • Pain Symptoms: (4 or more experienced) pain in head, abdomen, back and joint
  • Can also feel uncomfortable pain in the rectum

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  • Abnormalities in

menstruation, urination

and sexual intercourse

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Gastrointestinal

  • 2 or more experienced
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Intolerance of foods
  • Heart burn and

constipation

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Sexual

  • At least one is experienced
  • Indifference in sex
  • Difficulties with erections and ejaculation
  • Excessive menstrual bleeding
  • Painful urination

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Pseudoneurological

  • At least 1 is experienced
  • Impaired balance
  • Weak or paralyzed muscles
  • Lump in throat or trouble swallowing
  • Loss of voice
  • Double vision and dizziness
  • Seizures are common

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Causes

  • Nerve impulses that send signals of pain, pressure, and other unpleasant sensations to the brain
  • Really have these pains and they are not imagined
  • physically abused as well as sexually abused

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Treatments

  • Not cure, but can be managed
  • Helping the person with disorders to live the most normal live as possible
  • Teach people how to control their symptoms and also help to find things that make their pain worse
  • Doctors tell patients to keep active through the pain.
  • does not shorten a person’s life

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