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6: Somatic Symptom Disorders and Dissociative Disorders

  • Page ID
    219751
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    • 6.1: Why It Matters- Dissociative and Somatic Symptom Disorders
      This page explores the significance of understanding dissociative and somatic symptom disorders, which reveal intricate psychological issues. Dissociative disorders, characterized by memory loss and identity changes linked to trauma, challenge perceptions of consciousness. Somatic symptom disorders present unexplained physical symptoms, emphasizing the mind-body relationship. Gaining insight into these disorders fosters awareness and empathy for affected individuals.
    • 6.2: Introduction to Dissociative Disorders
      This page discusses dissociative disorders like dissociative fugue, amnesia, depersonalization/derealization, and identity disorder, outlining their symptoms and possible causes, such as trauma and sleep problems. It also includes a video overview and supplementary resources, including transcripts and contributor attributions.
    • 6.3: Understanding Dissociation
      This page discusses dissociation, characterized by disruptions in consciousness and identity, and includes symptoms like depersonalization and amnesia. It highlights dissociative disorders, particularly dissociative identity disorder (DID), often stemming from childhood trauma. Prevalence ranges from 1%-3% in the population, with assessment tools like the Dissociative Experiences Scale aiding in screening. Comprehensive evaluation necessitates a clinical interview.
    • 6.4: Dissociative Amnesia, Fugue, and Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
      This page discusses dissociative disorders characterized by disconnection from self, impacting memory and identity. Key types are dissociative amnesia and fugue, along with depersonalization/derealization disorder. Treatment typically focuses on psychotherapy, especially trauma, with limited effectiveness of medications.
    • 6.5: Dissociative Identity Disorder
      This page discusses Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), characterized by multiple distinct identities often linked to childhood trauma. The disorder gained formal recognition in the DSM-3 during the 1980s amidst media attention and a reported increase in diagnoses. Treatment typically involves Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
    • 6.6: Dissociation and Sleep
      This page discusses the sleep-dissociation model, linking dissociative disorders with unusual sleep experiences like nightmares. It notes historical perspectives on dissociative symptoms and emphasizes how sleep disruptions can worsen these symptoms. Future research aims to deepen the understanding of this relationship and improve treatment approaches, including trauma considerations.
    • 6.7: Introduction to Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
      This page discusses somatic symptom and related disorders, including somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder, and fictitious disorder. It covers their symptoms, prevalence, presentations, and potential causes to aid in identifying and understanding these conditions, which were previously referred to as somatoform disorders.
    • 6.8: Somatic Symptom Disorder and Illness Anxiety Disorder
      This page discusses somatic symptom disorder, where individuals experience unexplained physical symptoms and excessive worry, and illness anxiety disorder (IAD), marked by a fixation on the possibility of severe illness without physical symptoms. Both disorders cause significant distress and can result in misuse of healthcare resources. Management is difficult and often requires supportive therapies, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
    • 6.9: Conversion Disorder and Other Somatic Symptom Disorders
      This page outlines two psychological disorders: Conversion Disorder, characterized by neurological symptoms with no medical cause linked to psychological distress, and Factitious Disorder, where individuals feign illness for the sake of playing a patient role. It includes variants like Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen by proxy, where caregivers exaggerate symptoms in others. Both disorders differ from malingering, as they do not involve a desire for material gain.
    • 6.10: Introduction to Treating Dissociative and Somatic Symptom Disorders
      This page addresses the complexities of diagnosing and treating dissociative and somatic symptom disorders. It reviews various treatment methods, including psychotherapeutic and alternative therapies like physical or occupational therapy, aimed at improving quality of life. The page also examines the theoretical frameworks that inform treatment choices, offering insights into diverse perspectives on these mental health disorders.
    • 6.11: Perspectives on Dissociative and Somatic Symptom Disorders
      This page discusses dissociative and somatic symptom disorders, highlighting the impact of biological, cognitive, sociocultural, and psychodynamic factors. It notes that psychodynamic views see dissociation as a defense against trauma, while genetic links and environmental factors, including socioeconomic influences, are crucial. Cognitive perspectives examine memory systems affected by trauma.
    • 6.12: Treating Dissociative Disorders and Somatic Symptom Disorders
      This page discusses treatment methods for dissociative and somatic symptom disorders, emphasizing long-term psychotherapy techniques like CBT, DBT, and hypnotherapy for dissociative disorders. Somatic symptoms are treated with psychotherapy, physical therapy, and medications. An example illustrates the treatment of a girl with conversion disorder, underscoring the need for understanding triggers.
    • 6.13: Case Studies- Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders
      This page discusses Mia's struggle with undiagnosed physical symptoms, which were ultimately attributed to conversion disorder following extensive testing. Despite treatment, including therapy at the Mayo Clinic, Mia continues to experience challenges such as weakness and numbness. Her complex case emphasizes the link between psychological factors and somatic disorders.
    • 6.14: Putting It Together- Somatic Symptom Disorders and Dissociative Disorders
      This page discusses dissociative and somatic symptom disorders, including their symptoms and presentations. It urges reflection on treatment plans from various psychological perspectives, acknowledging the diagnostic challenges counselors encounter. The importance of critical thinking for future practice in handling these often-misdiagnosed disorders is also emphasized.


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