Question

What are the symptoms of factitious disorder, conversion disorder, and somatic symptom disorder? pp. 238-244

Short answer

Factitious disorder symptoms include dramatic descriptions of symptoms, inconsistent medical history, predictably worsening symptoms; symptoms of Conversion disorder are physical but cannot be explained medically, they vary in severity, may come and go or be persistent; symptoms of Somatic symptom disorder involve significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath, that results in major distress, an individual has excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to these symptoms for more than six months.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Factitious Disorder

Factitious disorder is a mental disorder in which an individual consciously fakes, exaggerates, or self-induces an illness or injury. Symptoms generally include the person's dramatic descriptions of symptoms, inconsistent medical history, predictably worsening symptoms, and symptoms that don't respond as expected to standard therapies.

Understand Conversion Disorder

Conversion disorder, also known as functional neurological symptom disorder, is condition in which a person has physical symptoms that no medical condition, physical examination or testing can explain. The symptoms can vary in severity and may come and go or be persistent. You may also appear to be generally impaired yet are able to perform activities that require fine motor coordination.

Understand Somatic Symptom Disorder

Somatic symptom disorder involves a person having a significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath, that results in major distress and/or problems functioning. The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to the symptoms, persists with symptoms for more than six months.

Key concepts

Factitious Disorder

Factitious disorder is a complex mental health condition where an individual deliberately fabricates or induces symptoms of illness. Unlike other psychological conditions, the primary aim is not to achieve tangible rewards, but rather to gain attention, sympathy, or nurturance from others. Individuals with this disorder often present with:

• Exaggerated and dramatic portrayal of symptoms.
• Inconsistent medical history that doesn’t align with standard patterns of known diseases.
• Symptoms that oddly worsen despite treatment or improve only when they know they’re being observed.

These behaviors can include everything from lying about symptoms to manipulating medical tests, like adding blood to urine samples. It's essential to approach this condition with sensitivity, as it reflects deeper psychological needs and issues. Finding out the underlying emotional trigger is often a key step in managing the disorder. Early detection and intervention by mental health professionals can lead to better outcomes and less harm to the individual.

Conversion Disorder

Conversion disorder, or functional neurological symptom disorder, involves individuals experiencing motor or sensory symptoms that cannot be explained by medical evaluation. These symptoms are real for the patient, even though they have no identifiable organic cause. Common features of this disorder include:

• Sudden onset of symptoms following a stressful event, such as seizures, paralysis, or blindness.
• Discrepancy between the symptoms and medical or neurological conditions.
• Persistent fluctuations, with some individuals experiencing intermittent remissions.

What makes conversion disorder unique is that the symptoms often serve a psychological purpose, helping the individual manage stress or anxiety without conscious awareness of doing so. Treatment often includes cognitive behavioral therapy and physical therapy, which can help address both the psychological and physical aspects of the disorder. Understanding the psychological context and addressing underlying feelings can significantly improve outcomes.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by a person's intense focus on physical symptoms such as pain or fatigue, which causes major distress and interferes with daily life. What sets this disorder apart is not the absence of a medical cause for the symptoms but the degree of worry and attention the person gives them. Important aspects include:

• Excessive thoughts, anxiety, and behaviors around the physical symptoms.
• Symptom persistence, often lasting more than six months, despite medical reassurance.
• Significant impairment in work, social, and personal life due to the focus on these symptoms.

The distress is genuine, and often the symptom focus becomes more prominent than any underlying physical condition itself. Patients benefit greatly from a holistic treatment approach that combines psychotherapy—particularly cognitive-behavioral methods—with medical management. This strategy helps in coping with symptoms, reducing anxiety, and improving overall quality of life. Providing assurance that symptoms are taken seriously while gently guiding towards understanding their emotional and psychological roots is essential in managing somatic symptom disorder.