Bailey Powell And: Catherine Kircos Third Hour

OMATOFORM
DISORDERS
Bailey Powell and

Catherine Kircos :
Third Hour
Hypochondria
Bailey Powell
AP Psych 3rd Hour
 Hypochondria is when a person
becomes preoccupied with the fear that
they have a serious illness, despite
doctors telling them they don’t

 Normal bodily functions or

small abnormalities become
symptoms


Estimated 1
to 5% of the U.S. adult
population suffers from this


Equal number of men
 and women affected
•
Diagnostic Criteria
 A. Preoccupation with the idea that one has a
serious disease based on misinterpretation of
bodily symptoms.
 B. This preoccupation persists despite
appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance
 C. The belief is not of delusional intensity (like
Dilusional Disorder in Body Dysmorphic
Disorder).
D. The preoccupation causes clinically significant
distress/impairment in functioning either
socially, occupationally, or in other important areas of
functioning.
 E. This disturbance has a duration of at least
six months.
 F. This preoccupation is not better accounted
for by another Somatoform Disorder, Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder,
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety,
or a Major Depressive Episode. (BehaveNet)
Behavioral/Learning Causes
• A parent or close relative who has the
disease
– Children may learn it from parents who are
overly concerned about disease or
overreact to minor illnesses
• Cultural beliefs
• Excessive caffeine may
 make this disorder worse


http://www.momlogic.com/images/hypochondriac_kid_pm-thumb-270x270.jpg
Cognitive Causes
• A history of sexual or physical abuse

• May have been sick often or
seriously ill as a child
• A history of worrying
• Person has difficulty expressing
emotions
• Where most people assume they’re
healthy until something proves
different, the hypochondriac
assumes they’re sick
– In other words, they are pessimistic
about their overall health
–
BioIological/Somatic Causes
• Inherited susceptibility
• Body’s natural fight-or-flight response is overactive
– Anxiety creates physical arousal (increased heart rate,
sweating, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath etc.).
• amplified sensory experience/heightened sensitivity to
internal sensations

Symptoms
The symptoms that a hypochondriac feels are

real. The hypochondriac may:

• Go to many doctors (“doctor shopping”)
• Have recently experienced a loss or stress
• Have symptoms that change
• Have symptoms that focus on one organ
system in particular (e.g. the heart, the
digestive system)
• Also suffer from depression, anxiety, or
nervousness
• Not be reassured by doctor - believes
doctor is wrong
• Frequently check body and vitals
• Research health obsessively
– After reading about a disease on the
Internet (cyberchondria) or seeing it
on TV may think they have the
disease
Related Disorders
• Obsessive
compulsive
disorder (OCD)
and panic
disorder
– Some believe
it has more
factors of an
anxiety, not
a
somatoform
disorder
–
Cognitive
• Most hypochondriacs are
Therapy resistant to
psychotherapy, denying
the core problem is
psychological
• Therapists encourage them
to offer alternate
explanations for their
symptoms
• Doctors may ask them to
keep a diary about their
symptoms as well as
setbacks in their life
(overdue bill, fight with a
relative etc.) and draw
connections between them

Behavioral stress management

Focus on a specific physical


sensation or monitor
Behavioral

increases in anxiety levels
Therapy
Encouraged to supress urges

to talk about health related

concerns with family and
friends.

Identify stressors in their lives


and learn techniques

(relaxation, problem solving
etc.) to cope with them

Have yearly screening tests


instead of repeated doctor

visits
Medications
Antidepressants, especially selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), or
anti-anxiety medications are helpful if
person also has a mood or anxiety
disorder
But it’s better to have regularly

scheduled doctor appointments instead
of just using medication, because
hypochondriacs may abuse the drugs
and possible side effects of the http://www.creators.com/comics/2/17088_thumb.gif
medication can contribute to symptoms


• A Day in the Life of a Hypochondriac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXlXN84N
•
•
•
Bibliography
• "Clinical Capsule": Hypochondriasis." BehaveNet. Web. Dec. & jan. 2010.
<http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/hypochondriasis.htm>.
•
• "Hypochondriasis disorder, hypochondriasis treatment, hypochondriasis picture, case
study hypochondriasis." Depression Treatment, Medication, Help, Symptoms:
Anxiety Attacks Depression Test, Types, ADHD Causes. Web. Dec. & jan. 2010.
<http://www.depression-guide.com/hypochondriasis.htm>.
•
• "Hypochondriasis." Cleveland Clinic. Web. Dec. & jan. 2010.
<http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/hypochondriasis/hic_hypochondriasis.asp
x>.
•
• "Hypochondria." Google Health. Web. Dec. & jan. 2010.
<https://health.google.com/health/ref/Hypochondria>.
•
• "What is Hypochondria?" Medical News Today: Health News. Web. Dec. & jan. 2010.
<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9983.php>.
•
• deviantart.com
CONVERSION DISORDER
Catherine Kircos
DEFINITION
Conversion Disorder is a disorder in
which patients present with
neurological symptoms such as
numbness, paralysis, or fits, but
where no neurological explanation
can be found.
It is thought that these problems
arise in response to difficulties in
the patient's life.
SYMPTOMS
-Pseudoparalysis
-Pseudosensory syndromes
-Pseudoseizures
-Pseudocoma
-Psychogenic movement disorders
-Pseudoblindness
-Pseudodiplopia
-Pseudoptosis
CAUSES
BIOLOGICAL/SOMATIC THEORY
- A disturbance in the central nervous
system results in the disorder.
PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY
- Unconscious conflicts cause the
‘conversion’ of these conflicts into
physical symptoms.
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
A. One or more symptoms affecting functioning that

suggest a medical condition.


B. Psychological factors are judged to be associated

with the symptom.
C. The symptom is not intentionally produced.
D. The symptom cannot be fully explained by a

general medical condition.
E. The symptom causes significant distress.
F. The symptom is not better accounted for by

TREATMENT
COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
- Cognitive behavioral approaches have
been tried with good results.
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is
sometimes used with children and
adolescents to help them gain insight
into their symptoms.
GROUP/FAMILY THERAPY
-Family therapy is often recommended
for younger patients whose symptoms
may be related to family dysfunction.
-Group therapy appears to be
particularly useful in helping
adolescents to learn social skills and
coping strategies, and to decrease
their dependencies on their families.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC,
American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
"Clinical Capsule": Conversion Disorder." BehaveNet. Web. 03 Jan. 2010.

<http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/conversiondis.htm>.
"Conversion disorder - children, causes, DSM, functioning, therapy, adults,

person, people, used, medication, skills, effect, women, health,
Definition, Description, Causes and symptoms." Encyclopedia of Mental
Disorders. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. <http://www.minddisorders.com/Br-
Del/Conversion-disorder.html>.
"Conversion Disorder in Somatoform Disorders at ALLPSYCH Online."

Psychology Classroom at AllPsych Online. Web. 03 Jan. 2010.
<http://allpsych.com/disorders/somatoform/conversiondisorder.html>.

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OMATOFORM

Bailey Powell and

 Normal bodily functions or

• A history of sexual or physical abuse

real. The hypochondriac may:

Focus on a specific physical

to talk about health related

Identify stressors in their lives

and learn techniques

Have yearly screening tests

instead of repeated doctor

But it’s better to have regularly

medication can contribute to symptoms

• A Day in the Life of a Hypochondriac

suggest a medical condition.

B. Psychological factors are judged to be associated

C. The symptom is not intentionally produced.

D. The symptom cannot be fully explained by a

E. The symptom causes significant distress.

F. The symptom is not better accounted for by

"Clinical Capsule": Conversion Disorder." BehaveNet. Web. 03 Jan. 2010.

"Conversion disorder - children, causes, DSM, functioning, therapy, adults,

"Conversion Disorder in Somatoform Disorders at ALLPSYCH Online."

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