Transcript Somatoform Disorders

Somatoform Disorders
SOMATOFORM DISORDERS
Somatoform Disorder – psychological
problem in which there are symptoms of a
physical disorder without a physical cause.
(Somatic refers to body)
 Swopepsych- Ricky Bobby on fire
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Hypochondriasis
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Hypochondriasis – a somatoform disorder involving
strong, unjustified fear of physical illness.
The fear that one has AIDS, cancer, heart disease, etc.
Fear prompts frequent visits to the doctor/hospital
Patient reports numerous symptoms but no physical
cause is found.
YOUTUBE- A Day in the Life of a Hypochondriac
Patients are often dissatisfied with the diagnosis
Small symptoms are exaggerated
Similar to an anxiety disorder in that you combine OCD,
phobia and panic. But someone with an anxiety about a
physical illness would be afraid of getting the illness
whereas hypochondriacs are excessively concerned with
having the illness
What is Hypochondria? (Mental Health Guru)
Conversion Disorder
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Conversion disorder (formerly called hysteria) – a
somatoform disorder in which a person appears to be,
but is not, blind, deaf, paralyzed or insensitive to pain in
various parts of the body.
– The person will not be able to move their arms, see, feel, etc.
but there is no biological cause
– The diagnosis of conversion disorder is rare, occurring in only
2% of the population
– Usually appears in adolescence or early adulthood (but can
occur at any age)
– Conversion disorder seems to appear due to some stressful
psychological event (trivial or traumatic)
– Patients have a difficult time believing that the problem is
psychological rather than physiological
– Symptoms may be short term and could reappear later.
– Ex. An equestrian develops paralysis in her legs after a fall from
her horse, although the fall was physically harmless
Clips on Conversion Disorder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh0ytPFL7w (Ricky Bobby 1)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dye0
5tvSoo (Ricky Bobby 2)
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Causes of Somatoform Disorders
Psychodynamic Perspective – due to
unresolved unconscious conflicts
 Behaviorist Perspective – behavior is
reinforced and thus it continues
(reinforced through attention or relieved
of certain duties)
 Cognitive perspective – threatening
information confirms belief of sickness
whereas reassuring information is ignored
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