Flores-Macalam, Bernadette Joy

BS Psychology 3 Irregular
August 9, 2017
IP Magis #8: Somatic Symptoms Disorders

I. Context
A. Somatic
1. Definition

Somatic Disorder also called somatic symptom and related disorder is defined
as focusing on the positive symptoms and signs rather than the absence of the
medical explanation. One distinctive characteristic of this disorder is how the
person presents and interprets this disorder. A person under this disorder will
have one or more of these symptoms in which they are distressing or results
towards a major disruption of daily life. If a mild case then they would one
symptoms for criterion B will be present. If moderate two or more of Criterion B
is present. If severe then there will be two or more Criterion B is present with
multiple somatic complaints (DSM 5).

2. Symptoms

Disproportionate and constant thoughts about being serious on their own

symptoms (Criterion A in DSM 5)
Constant high level of anxiety about their health or symptoms (Criterion B in
DSM 5)
Excessive (Significant amount of) time and energy is devoted to their
symptoms and health concerns (Criterion C in DSM 5)
Localized pain
Fatigue
May or may not be associated with another medical condition
Excessive worrying about illness
Fear about any that any physical activity will damage the body
Repeating to seek medical attention and advise
Depressive Symptoms
Suicidal

(DSM 5).

3. Risk Factors

The Risk Factors for the Somatic Disorder are known to be temperamental and
environmental risk factors. Temperamental risk factors commonly consist of the
person's personality trait of having negative affectivity (neuroticism) as well as
possessing comorbid anxiety or depression. Environmental risk factors are when
a person has only a few years of education, is low in socioeconomic status and
recently experienced stressful life events (DSM 5).

4. Treatment

Treatment of Somatic Disorder includes two methods which are psychotherapy

and medications. The psychotherapy strongly recommended is Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

CBT helps by:

Examining one's beliefs

Teaching how to reduce stress
Teaching how to cope with any physical symptoms
Lessening preoccupation with symptoms
Teach the person how to not avoid any situations that will make them
uncomfortable in their physical sensations
Improve their daily functions in terms of setting
Address any other mental disorder related to this

Medications for this are usually used to treat the symptoms of this disorder.

(Mayo Clinic, 2015).

B. Conversion Disorder
1. Definition

Conversion Disorder is defined as having one or more symptoms of the

altered or changed voluntary motor or sensory function. There will be an
indication of incapability between the recognized medical or neurological
condition and the symptoms. This disorder is not better explained through other
medical or mental disorder(s). There would be distress or impairment in
important areas of functioning. An acute episode of this disorder is present for
less than 6 months while if persistent than this episode has occurred for 6
months and higher (DSM 5).

2. Symptoms

Has paralysis or weakness

Exhibits abnormal movement (tremor, myoclonus, dystonic movement and
gait disorder)
 Has swallowing symptoms
Has speech symptoms such as dysphonia and slurred speech
Attacks or seizures
Has anesthesia or sensory loss
Has special sensory symptom (olfactory, visual or hearing disturbances)
Mixed symptoms

(DSM 5)

3. Risk Factors

Risk factors for the Conversion Disorder include temperamental,

environmental and genetic and physiological risk factors. The temperamental
risk factors are the personality traits that are maladaptive. The environmental
risk factors are history of childhood abuse and neglect as well as the
reoccurrence of stressful events. Genetical and physiological risk factors is when
there is occurrence of a neurological disease that can cause similar symptoms
(DSM 5).

4. Treatment

Treatment for the Conversion Disorder will depend on the signs and
symptoms and the type of functional neurological disorder the person has. The
medical disorder treatment is used to provide treatment for any medical or
neurological disease that may trigger a person's symptoms. There are 3 types of
therapy a person can take which are physical or occupational therapy, speech
therapy and stress reduction or distraction techniques. Physical or occupational
therapy helps with improving movement symptoms and preventing any
complications. Speech therapy deals with problems in speech or swallowing.
Stress reduction or distraction techniques teach methods on how to do
progressive muscle relaxation, physical activity and exercise, breathing
exercises all and as well as distraction techniques (Mayo Clinic, 2017).

C. Illness Anxiety
1. Definition

Illness Anxiety Disorder is defined as having a preoccupation towards having

or wanting a serious illness. Somatic symptoms may not be present but if
present they are only considered to be mild. If there are other medical
conditions present with this disorder than the preoccupation of this disorder is
clearly noticeable or disproportionate (not easily distinguishable). People would
experience a high level of anxiety when it comes to their health making them
alarmed about their own personal health status. People would typically do
excessive health-related behaviors or appear to have maladaptive avoidance
(avoids any medical appointments or hospitals). The disorder must be present
for at least 6 months although this disorder may evolve over time (DSM 5).

2. Symptoms

Focuses their attention on having or getting a serious health disease or

health condition
Excessive worrying about minor symptoms
Easily alarmed by their personal health status
Not convince on negative test results or doctor's reassurance that one is not
sick
Worried about possible inherited diseases or illnesses
Inability to function because of distress
Repeated check ups
Avoiding any health risks
Constantly talking about health
Frequent searching about illness or conditions

(Mayo Clinic, 2015).

3. Risk Factors

Risk Factors of the Illness Anxiety Disorder are environmental risk factors.
Environmental Risk Factors is when a person had encountered a major life stress
or a serious but benign threat to that person's health. This can also include a
history of child abuse or a serious childhood illness which develops more as an
adult (DSM 5).

4. Treatment

Treatments for the Illness Anxiety Disorder are psychotherapy and

medications. The psychotherapy usually used is CBT. While for medications they
often are prescribed as antidepressants such as SSRIs to help treat mood or
anxiety. (Mayo Clinic, 2015).

D. Factitious Disorder
1. Definition
 Factitious Disorder is defined as false physical or psychological signs or
symptoms or induction of disease or injury that correlates with the identified
deception. Individuals will see themselves as ill, injured or impaired towards
others. This deception act is happening even with no external rewards to
receive. Factitious Disorder is not better explained by any other mental disorder
like delusional disorder or other psychotic disorders. The episodes of this
disorder are single episodes and recurrent episodes where two or more events of
false illness or injury (DSM 5).

2. Symptoms

Having excessive knowledge on medical diseases and terms

Vague or inconsistent symptoms
Condition appear to get worst without a reason
Conditions do not respond according to standard
Seeking treatment under fake name
Frequently stays in the hospital
Eager for testing or operations
Many body scars from previous procedures

(Mayo Clinic, 2017)

3. Risk Factors

Risk Factors of the Factitious Disorder are childhood trauma like sexual
abuse, a serious illness during childhood, loss of someone, personality disorder,
depression, desire to be with anything medical and work in health care (Mayo
Clinic, 2017).

4. Treatment

Treatment for Factitious Disorder requires a nonjudgmental approach and

other treatment options. A nonjudgmental approach makes that person angry
and defensive which eliminates medical options for that person. Other
treatments include having a primary care doctor, psychotherapy, medication and
hospitalization.

II. E-R-A
A. Experience
 As I was writing this paper I observe as if there was no fair amount or equal
treatment for these people in terms of affection. I say the word affection
because some of these people will try to receive sympathy from others so that
they can feel better whether or not they have those bad illness or disorders. I
can say this whole lesson made me think one scenario which is a kid wanting or
longing to get this disorder because of fear leading to a possibility that the kids
would tell their parents so that they can get their full undivided sympathy and
care. Base on my understanding Somatic Disorders is mainly about, receiving a
potential threat due to fear or expanding beyond that misfortune to seek the
longing of attention and sympathy. So, while writing this paper, I observed that
these people suffer from extreme stress and neglect that causes them to have a
belief that they are sick or they should be sick to have people's attention.

In my personal experience I have done something similar to that but not in a

severe manner. When I was in Middle School my sister was feeling ill and went
back home not returning to school for a week. Within that week the doctor said
she had bad asthma. I got envious of the care she received so I told my friends
and classmates about my sister's condition and also mentioned I can get it too.
That this condition is easily inherited and I can be asthmatic starting from that
moment on ward. I told that to a majority of the people for a week until I didn't
receive the reaction that I wanted. This is a non-severe case of factitious
disorder.

B. Reflection

Now knowing more about the Somatic Disorder, I think that the people
diagnosed with this disorder feel as if that they are not well enough to take care
of themselves or they need people's attention so they can seek affection they
desire. I think that people assume that they have these bad illnesses or
conditions because they think they are not living in the healthiest conditions in
their lives, or they think that since a majority of people have this type of illness
or condition why don't I have it, or that they found out about a certain illness or
conditions and saw that they either may or may not have these symptoms. As
for people seeking attention through illness I think that they must have
experienced some strong form of neglect to where this problem followed on to
adulthood. I think that these people diagnosed under these disorders are
experiencing a strong sense of fear. Overall, this fear has overtaken their
mindset in living.

For my own personal reflection towards my non-severe similar event, I think

my intentions were similar to that of a person with Factitious Disorder. I think
that the reason why I acted that way was because I felt neglected. I think at
that time my parents were not equally dividing their attention so I seek
attention elsewhere. I also think that my action was not reasonably done that
there would have been another way to handle my problems. Seeking attention
through saying you have an illness even if you don't have it was a wrong move
for me to do.

C. Action

The actions that I would recommend for those individuals to do are to reflect
back on why I think and feel this way. The best question to ask yourself is "How
come?" Sometimes what would seem as a complex major problem is actually, a
single minor problem. The individual must go beyond the obvious of saying, "I
feel and or act this way because I am sick or soon to be ill" to "I am like this
way (reason that is not just because I am sick or soon to be ill)". Once they
know the origins of stress or trauma they should address these origins and start
to reason out what to do from that moment on. Therefore, I would recommend
these people to reflect into a deeper meaning on their actions.

As for myself I think I shouldn't have included or will include another crisis
mixed up into one problem. I had combined the problems of illness and envy
without a reasonable purpose. I should reflect back on my feelings and figure
out what is troubling me the most. Then I should work accordingly on how to
properly handle my distress. Overall, I need to not combine problems but solve
them single handily.

III. Evaluation- 3 Significant Learning Points

From this IP paper my learning had aggressed. The reason being is I knew
that there was a disorder characterized by having false illnesses or about to
have false illness but I didn't know the name of the disorder nor more detail
besides that. The (1) first thing that I learn was the differences about each
disorder under Somatic Disorder. Each Somatic Disorder is different in terms of
the effect the disorder has on the person. As well as the similar but yet different
treatments for each disorder. The (2) second thing that I learned was the
perspective of the people under each disorder. For somatic disorder and illness
disorder a person would as if nothing that they could do and could have done
would make them be healthier than their present state of possible illness which
in return leads to side effects of physical appearance which is the conversion
disorders. As for the factitious disorder people need to act like they are sick so
they can get the attention they want. The (3) thing that I had learned was how
to treat these disorders. These disorders are usually treated through two
methods which are psychotherapies and medications. Treatment can also
include emergency care and hospitalization.
 References

Mayo Clinic. (2015 May 21). Somatic Symptom Disorder: Treatment and drugs.

Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/somatic-

symptom-disorder/basics/treatment/con-20124065.

Mayo Clinic. (2015 July 2). Illness anxiety disorder: Symptoms.

Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-

anxiety-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20124064.

Mayo Clinic. (2015 July 2). Illness anxiety disorder: Treatment and drugs.

Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-

anxiety-disorder/basics/treatment/con-20124064.

Mayo Clinic. (2017 July 11). Functional neurological disorder/ conversion

disorder: Treatment.

Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

conditions/conversion-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20323822.

Mayo Clinic. (2017 May 31). Factitious Disorder.

Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/factitious-

disorder/symptoms-causes/dxc-20322573.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental

disorders (5th ed.).