Somatoform Disorder
In this disorder physical symptoms occur without any physical pathology it generated due to psychological anxiety.
Psychological symptoms occur due to psychological problems. The patient gain two type of profiit.
Types
1. Somatization Disorder
If the multiple somatic are produce due to repressed anxiety that called somatization disorder.
The example of symptoms are multisystem symptoms like GI symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
Sexual symptoms, irregular menstrual cycle, erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction.
Neurological symptoms, paralysis, blindness, deafness.
2. Conversion/ Hysteria Disorder
There is loss of specific body function due to psychological conflict where exact pathology not present.
The patient is not aware about these situation or symptoms. The conversion symptoms are like paralysis, aphonia (Inability to speak), seizure, difficulty in swallowing, urinary retention, blindness, deafness, double vision, anosmia (loss of smell), loss of pain sensation, false pregnancy.
The patient is not aware the causes of these symptoms it known as labelle indifferences.
3. Pain Disorder
Pain disorder are show the severe and prolonged pain with multiple system it cause significant distress, impairment in social personal and occupational functioning. The personal receive all type of gain like,
• Primary gain
Avoidance of stressful situation
• Secondary gain
Attention of other & gaining sympathy of others.
• Tertiary gain
Avoid attention from the undesired work or punishment.
The person show frequent visit to physician to relieve the pain.
Excessive use of analgesics and requesting for surgery.
4. Hypochondrias
It is the unrealistic, inaccurate, interpretation of physical symptoms or sensation. There is no organic pathology detected thr symptoms are like which consider by patient.
• Rapid heartbeat person consider cardiac disease.
• Minor chest pain person think heart attack.
• Small sore person think skin cancer.
• To relieve the symptoms person changing the treatment and the doctor it called doctor changing shopping.
5. Body Dysmorphic Disorder
This disorder characterized by extreme belief that body is defective or deforme to sure the minor body changes
Example
Like thinning of hairs, acne, wrinkles on the skin, scar, facial swelling, asymmetry of body
By the dysmorphic disorder severe depression occurs obsessive compulsive personality mostly predispose this disorder. To correct this minor deformity person frequently use cosmetic surgeries.
Pre disposing Factors
1. Genetic
It increase the incidence to occurring somatoform. The child of somatoform disorder patient monozygotic twin have more chance than normal population.
2. Biochemical
Decrease level of serotonine and endorphins.
3. Psychodynamic Factors
Weak ego development it decrease low self esteem and worthlessness.
4. Group Dynamics
Some families have to difficulty in express the emotions, stress openly and freely to resolve the conflict. These family members have more chance to somatoform disorder.
5. Learning Theory
The person is reinforce for somatoform behaviour with the previous experience when the person use this type of behaviour to relieve the stress.
Pharmacological Management
• Antidepressant drugs
• Anticonvulsants drugs
• Antipsychotics drugs
Therapeutic Management
1. Individual psychotherapy
2. Group psychotherapy
3. Behaviour therapy
Somatoform Disorder, Psychiatry
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