Transcript Somatoform Disorders

Somatoform Disorders
when physical illness is largely
psychological in origin
 3 types: somatization, conversion,
hypochondriasis (illness anxiety disorder)

Somatization Disorder
Characterized by multiple symptoms
(pain, vomiting, coughing, migraines) that
have no physical causes
 Could be a means of coping with a
stressful situation
 This disorder is often co-morbid (exist
with) depression & anxiety disorders

Conversion Disorder
Significant loss of
physical function (with
no organic basis)
 Common symptoms:
loss of vision, loss of
hearing, paralysis,
laryngitis

Hypochondria (Anxiety Illness Disorder)
Excessive preoccupation with their health
and constant worry about developing a
physical illness
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJr7ewKHY4

Anxiety Disorders
* Marked by feelings of excessive
apprehension
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
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High level of anxiety not specific to any threat
Constant worry
Worry is out of proportion to actual event
Some Symptoms: trembling, dizziness, sweating,
heart palpitations, difficultly concentration,
irritable
Phobias
Most common anxiety disorder
 Irrational fear of a specific thing that
presents no realistic danger
 Most common phobia is Social Phobiafear of performing in social situations, fear
of humiliating or embarrassing themselves

Other Common Phobias
Agoraphobia- fear of going out in public
places because escape might be difficult
(more common in women)
 Acrophobia- fear of heights
 Claustrophobia- fear of small enclosed
spaces
 Hydrophobia- fear of water
 Animals & Insects
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvDCq
LCdEE

Systematic Desensitization (type of
exposure therapy)
Goal is to weaken the association btw the
CS and CR
 Involves 3 steps:
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◦ Therapist helps the client build an anxiety
hierarchy (list or triggers)
◦ Teaching the client deep relaxation techniques
◦ Client tries to work through the hierarchy,
learning to remain relaxed while imagining each
stimulus
Panic Disorder
Recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety
that occur suddenly and unexpectedly
 Panic attack- racing heart, sweating,
trembling, difficulty breathing, chest pain,
nausea, dizzy

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(OCD)
Uncontrollable & unwanted thoughts
(obsessions) and urges to engage in
senseless rituals (compulsions) to reduce
the thoughts
 Common rituals: counting, cleaning, &
checking
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44DC
WslbsNM
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Causes

Biological Factors
◦ Concordance rates- percentage of twin pairs
and other pairs of relatives who exhibit the
disorder
◦ Imbalance of neurotransmitters

Conditioning & Learning
 Phobias acquired through classical conditioning
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Cognitive Factors
◦ “The doctor examined little Emma’s growth”
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Stress
Anxiety Medications
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Anti-anxiety medication- reduces
activity in the CNS (valium, tranquilizers)
Depressive Disorders- emotional
disturbances
Major Depression
(unipolar) about 18%
 Symptoms: loss of
pleasure for activities,
negative thoughts &
self-image, withdrawn,
less active, difficulty
sleeping
Bipolar (manic-depressive)
1-2%
 Symptoms of maniafeelings of euphoria, high
self-esteem, energy,
hyperactive, impulsive
Causes
Biological- abnormal levels of serotonin
 Cognitive- learned helplessness
 Environmental- relationship problems
 Stress
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Treatments
Anti-depressant drugs (SSRIs)
 ECT- electroconvulsive therapy
 Lithium (bipolar)
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Dissociative Identity Disorder
One or more alternate identities
 True self blacks out when other identities
take over
 Causes: severe childhood abuse
 Treatment: insight therapy- integration of
the identities
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Schizophrenia (split mind)
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Symptoms:
◦ Delusions- false beliefs
◦ Hallucinations- seeing/hearing things
◦ Disturbed Emotions- little emotional
responsiveness
◦ Deterioration of adaptive behavior- neglect of
hygiene, social skills deteriorate
4 Types of Schizophrenia
Paranoid- delusions of grandeur and
persecution
 Catatonic- motor disturbances
 Disorganized- severe deterioration of
adaptive behavior and delusions about
body functions
 Undifferentiated- mixture of the 3
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Causes & Treatment
Genetics- high concordance rate
 Excessive dopamine
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◦ Treatment: anti-psychotic drugs that reduce
amount of dopamine
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Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis- prenatal
development disrupted
Stress
 Enlarged ventricles in the brain

20/20 Inside Childhood
Schizophrenia
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9v4Fs
KXmj8