Somatoform Disorders

• Somatoform Disorders


  Characterized by persistent worry or complaints regarding physical illness when there are no physical findings.
• Conversion aka Hysteria
• Conversion Disorder


  Anxiety is converted to a neurologic manifestation (motor or sensory function)
• Conversion Disorder

  Characterized by La Belle Indifference (seemingly unconcerned with symptoms)
• Hypochondriasis 


  Preoccupation with having a serious disease based on misinterpretation of bodily function and sensation.
• Hypochondriasis

  HA: Doctor shopping
• Disease Conviction refers to preoccupation with the fear that one has a serious disease
• Disease Phobia refers to preoccupation with the fear that one will get a serious disease
• In conversion disorder, always assess first to rule out the cause then next is to treat the physical compaint
• Relief of anxiety or guilt - primary gain in conversion disorder
• Attention - secondary gain in conversion disorder
• Somatization Disorder aka Briquet's Syndrome
• Somatization Disorder

  usually appears before age 30
• Somatization Disorder: Symptoms

  4 pains

  • 2 gi (ex. nausea, vomiting, etc)
  • 1 sexual (ex. amenorrhea, sexual dysfunction)
  • 1 pseudo neurologic (ex. paralysis, numbness)
  • (+) pain

  For 6 months
• Factitious disorder 


  Somatic symptom illness wherein there is intentional induction or falsification of illness imposed on self/others
• Types of Factitious Disorder

  Munchausen's Syndrome

  • inflicting injury or illness to self
• Types of Factitious Disorder

  Munchausen's by proxy

  • inflicting injury or illness to others
• Munchausen's syndrome by proxy

  Is a mental illness and a form of child abuse.
• Malingering 


  It is the intentional production of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms
• SSRI medical management of somatic symptom illness