Question

Write in detail the four types of somatoform disorders. 4

Hint:

{Quick Memory Aid:}

• {Somatization:} Many symptoms, many body systems
• {Conversion:} Loss of function (paralysis, blindness)
• {Pain:} Unexplained chronic pain
• {Hypochondriasis:} Fear of having a serious illness

Answer 1

Somatoform disorders are a group of psychological disorders in which individuals experience physical symptoms that suggest a medical condition, but no identifiable organic cause can be found. These symptoms are not intentionally produced or feigned. The four main types of somatoform disorders are: 1. Somatization Disorder:

• Description: A chronic condition characterized by multiple physical complaints involving different body systems over several years.
• Symptoms: Patients report a combination of:
  • Pain symptoms (headaches, back pain, joint pain)
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, bloating, vomiting)
  • Sexual symptoms (irregular menstruation, sexual indifference)
  • Pseudoneurological symptoms (conversion symptoms like weakness, blurred vision)
• Onset: Usually begins before age 30 and persists for many years
• Key Feature: Patients frequently visit multiple doctors and undergo numerous medical tests without finding organic cause

2. Conversion Disorder:

• Description: Loss or alteration of physical functioning that suggests a neurological disorder but is actually linked to psychological factors
• Symptoms:
  • Paralysis or weakness in limbs
  • Blindness or double vision
  • Deafness
  • Loss of sensation (numbness)
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Difficulty swallowing or lump in throat
• Key Feature: Symptoms often appear suddenly after a stressful event and may resolve just as suddenly
• La Belle Indifférence: Patients may show surprising lack of concern about their dramatic symptoms

3. Pain Disorder:

• Description: Severe and chronic pain that causes significant distress or impairment, with psychological factors playing a major role in onset, severity, or maintenance
• Symptoms:
  • Back pain
  • Headaches
  • Pelvic pain
  • Fibromyalgia-type pain
• Key Feature: The pain is real and distressing, but no physical explanation adequately accounts for it
• Associated Features: Often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and excessive use of pain medication

4. Hypochondriasis:

• Description: Preoccupation with fear of having a serious disease based on misinterpretation of normal bodily sensations
• Symptoms:
  • Excessive worry about health
  • Interpreting minor symptoms (headache, sweating, cough) as signs of serious illness
  • Repeated checking of body for signs of illness
  • Frequent doctor visits or avoidance of medical care due to fear
• Key Feature: The fear persists despite medical reassurance and negative test results
• Course: Chronic condition that fluctuates with stress levels

Note: In the DSM-5, these disorders have been reclassified under "Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders" with some changes in terminology and criteria.