Question 1

Heather complains of weakness in the left side of her body, nausea, difficulty walking, and severe headaches. Although she has had a complete medical work-up, no physiological basis for her complaints has been found. Despite this medical clearance, she does not feel well enough to return to college studies. Which of the following best describes Heather's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Heather's symptoms are consistent with somatic symptom disorder, which involves experiencing physical symptoms without a clear physiological explanation. Factitious disorder involves deliberately faking symptoms for secondary gain, dissociative disorders involve disruptions in awareness, identity, and memory, and depersonalization disorder involves feeling detached from oneself or one's surroundings.

Question 2

Which of the following symptoms could lead to abnormal eating patterns or food avoidance?

Accepted Answer

Globus, also known as globus sensation, is the feeling of a lump in the throat that is not due to any physical obstruction. This sensation can be distressing and may lead to abnormal eating patterns or food avoidance due to fear of choking or discomfort while swallowing. The other symptoms listed (aphonia, la belle indifference, glove anesthesia) do not directly relate to eating patterns or food avoidance.

Question 3

Derrick has experienced intense pain in his lower back for the last 18 months. Even though an extensive medical evaluation found no physical basis for his complaints, he feels in too much pain to return to work. Derrick is becoming angry and depressed over his doctor's view that his problem is in his head and often spends time visiting emergency rooms for pain medication. Given what you know, what may Derrick be experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Derrick may be experiencing somatic symptom disorder, which involves excessive and persistent distress about physical symptoms that have no underlying medical explanation. He may be seeking medical attention and pain medication to cope with his distress, despite the lack of physical findings. Conversion disorder, hypochondriasis, and body dysmorphic disorder do not fit as well with the described symptoms.

Question 4

Which of the following is a somatic symptom and related disorder?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a somatic...

Question 5

The most common symptom group in conversion disorder is

Accepted Answer

According to the question, the most common symptom group in conversion disorder is being asked. Among the given options, the motor symptoms or deficits are the most common symptom group associated with conversion disorder. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 6

Glove anesthesia involves

Accepted Answer

Glove anesthesia is a medical condition where there is a loss of sensation in the hand and wrist, giving the sensation of wearing a glove. It is usually associated with nerve damage or compression.

Question 7

Among all the symptoms found in somatic symptom disorder, pseudoseizures are

Accepted Answer

Pseudoseizures, also known as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), are less common than other symptoms in somatic symptom disorder. Some studies have found that they may occur in 20-30% of patients with somatic symptom disorder, while others have reported lower rates. Nonetheless, they are still considered a significant and distressing symptom for those who experience them.

Question 8

Select the statement that is True of "la belle indifference" in conversion disorders.

Accepted Answer

La belle indifference refers to a lack of concern or anxiety about physical symptoms that are causing significant impairment or distress. While it is often associated with conversion disorder, which is a condition in which neurological symptoms arise due to psychological factors, not all patients with conversion disorder exhibit this symptom. Therefore, option D is correct. Option A is incorrect because while it is a characteristic feature of conversion disorder, it is not a diagnostic criteria. Option B is incorrect because age is not a factor in the presentation of la belle indifference. Option C is incorrect because the lack of concern or anxiety does not cause distress; rather, it is usually seen as odd or inappropriate.

Question 9

Mrs. Borhoquez is terrified that she has contracted a viral infection that is invading her body and weakening her immune system. In spite of medical tests that show no illness, she continues to surf the Internet looking for a diagnostic match to her symptoms. Family members were sympathetic at first but now are tired of hearing the same old complaints. Mrs. Borhoquez presents a classic case of

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Borhoquez’s fear of having a viral infection despite medical tests that show no illness is characteristic of illness anxiety disorder, also known as hypochondriasis. This disorder involves excessive worry or fear about having a serious disease or medical condition despite little or no evidence of illness. The individual may frequently check their body for signs of illness or seek medical attention, and their anxiety may significantly impair their daily functioning. The fact that Mrs. Borhoquez continues to search for a diagnostic match to her symptoms also suggests that she is seeking reassurance and validation for her fears.

Question 10

Somatic symptom disorders were originally known as

Accepted Answer

Somatic symptom disorders were originally known as hysteria. This term was used to describe a range of physical symptoms believed to have no organic cause and attributed to psychological factors, particularly in women. However, this term is no longer used due to its history of sexism and the belief that it stigmatizes and dismisses women's complaints of physical symptoms.

Question 11

What do all types of somatic symptom and related disorders have in common?

Accepted Answer

All types of somatic symptom and related disorders involve physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition.

Question 12

Altered sensory and motor experiences are characteristic of _____ disorder.

Accepted Answer

Altered sensory and motor experiences are one of the key features of conversion disorder, in which a person experiences physical symptoms or deficits that cannot be fully explained by medical or neurological conditions. Somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder may involve somatic (physical) symptoms, but not necessarily altered sensory or motor experiences. Factitious disorder involves intentionally faking or inducing physical symptoms for psychological reasons.

Question 13

Linda was driving to work when she suddenly experienced a narrowing of her visual field. Pulling off to the side of the road, she suddenly lost her vision. After undergoing extensive medical testing, her physical condition was attributed to psychological factors. What diagnosis might Linda be given?

Accepted Answer

Linda's symptoms are consistent with conversion disorder, which involves physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition and are believed to be caused by psychological factors. Undifferentiated somatic symptom disorder and somatic symptom disorder involve physical symptoms but do not necessarily include a sudden loss of vision. Hypochondriasis involves excessive worrying about having a serious illness, but does not typically result in physical symptoms such as a sudden loss of vision.

Question 14

As in the case of Anna O., the term "conversion disorder" implies a conversion of

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder involves the conversion of psychological stress into physical symptoms, such as paralysis or blindness, without any underlying medical cause. This is what happened in the case of Anna O., where her psychological trauma was manifested as physical symptoms like difficulty speaking and loss of sensation in her limbs. Choice A is incorrect because conversion disorder doesn't involve physical symptoms being converted into neurological problems. Choice B is incorrect because conversion disorder involves the conversion of psychological stress, not the creation of real organic problems. Choice D is incorrect because conversion disorder doesn't involve the conversion of one psychological problem into another.

Question 15

About _____% of the people diagnosed with conversion disorder are later found to have a diagnosable medical condition.

Accepted Answer

Approximately 10-15% of individuals initially diagnosed with conversion disorder are later found to have a diagnosable medical condition, indicating the importance of thorough medical evaluation and the challenge of diagnosing this condition.

Question 16

Conversion disorders and neurological problems may be discriminated from each other on the basis of

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorders and neurological problems can appear very similar in terms of patient complaints and symptoms. However, neurological problems can be identified through specific neurological patterns, such as abnormalities in reflexes or movement, which conversion disorders do not exhibit.

Question 17

Approximately 85% to 95% of the general population experiences at least one physical symptom every

Accepted Answer

The answer of Approximately 85% to 95% of the general...

Question 18

Among all the symptoms of somatic symptom disorders, _______ is among the most frequently reported.

Accepted Answer

Pain is commonly reported in somatic symptom disorders, often in the form of headaches or general body aches. Heart palpitations, limb weakness, and food intolerance are also potential symptoms of somatic symptom disorders, but they are less frequently reported than pain.

Question 19

Under what condition would a person be diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder?

Accepted Answer

Somatic symptom disorder (formerly known as somatization disorder) is diagnosed when a person has a pattern of persistent, distressing, and dysfunctional physical symptoms that are not fully explained by a medical condition or another mental disorder. The symptoms are typically long-standing, lasting for months or even years, and cause significant impairment in daily functioning.

Question 20

In 1859, ________ wrote a paper describing psychiatric patients whose disorders appeared to lack medical causes for their distress.

Accepted Answer

Pierre Briquet is well-known for publishing a paper in 1859 titled "Traité clinique et thérapeutique de l'Hystérie" in which he described patients who showed symptoms of hysteria that did not have an underlying medical cause. This paper is considered a landmark in the history of psychiatry as it contributed to the development of the concept of psychogenic illnesses.

Quiz 5: Somatic Symptom, Dissociative, and Factitious Disorders