Question 1

People with hypochondriasis are consciously faking their symptoms.

Accepted Answer

People with hypochondriasis do not intentionally fake their symptoms. They genuinely believe that they have a serious illness despite medical reassurance that they are healthy. It is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry about one's health, often leading to frequent doctor visits and medical tests.

Question 2

Hysteria or conversion disorder cases are more common today than in Freud's era.

Accepted Answer

Hysteria was a term commonly used during Freud's era to describe a group of symptoms that did not have an apparent physical cause, but rather a psychological one. Today, the term conversion disorder is used to describe these cases. The prevalence of conversion disorder has not necessarily increased since Freud's time, but rather the understanding and diagnosis of these cases have improved. Additionally, the term "hysteria" has fallen out of favor in modern psychiatric practice.

Question 3

Available research suggests that treating dissociative disorders does not reduce symptoms.

Accepted Answer

While research in this area is limited, current evidence suggests that treating dissociative disorders can lead to improvement in symptoms, especially with the use of specialized treatments like trauma-focused therapy and EMDR.

Question 4

The fact that conversion symptoms first appear in the context of, or are
aggravated by, conflicts or stressors suggests a psychological connection.

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that conversion symptoms are connected to psychological factors such as conflicts or stressors.

Question 5

People with somatic symptom disorder are not overly concerned about their troubling physical symptoms.

Accepted Answer

People with somatic symptom disorder are overly concerned and preoccupied with their physical symptoms, often to the point of causing significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.

Question 6

Some people show up repeatedly at hospital emergency rooms, feigning illness and seeking
treatment for no apparent reason.

Accepted Answer

This behavior is known as "frequent flyer syndrome" or "hospital addiction," and it is a well-documented phenomenon. It is estimated that 4-8% of emergency department visits in the United States are made by frequent flyers seeking non-urgent care. This puts a strain on healthcare resources and can lead to longer wait times for those with genuine medical emergencies.

Question 7

The DSM-5 lists conversion disorder as a subtype of illness anxiety disorder.

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder is actually listed as a separate diagnosis in the DSM-5. It involves physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a medical condition and are thought to be related to psychological stress or conflict. Illness anxiety disorder, on the other hand, involves excessive fear or preoccupation with having or developing a serious illness, even in the absence of any actual symptoms.

Question 8

Conversion disorder is so named because of the psychodynamic belief that it represents the channeling, or conversion, of repressed sexual or aggressive energies into physical symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder is so named because it was historically believed to involve the conversion of psychological stress or conflict into physical symptoms without any underlying medical explanation. While early theories linked it with repressed sexual or aggressive impulses, modern understanding of the disorder focuses more on the interplay between psychological and neurological factors.

Question 9

Most of the time, the bodily symptoms found in conversion disorder match the medical
conditions they suggest.

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder involves the manifestation of physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by medical or neurological conditions. These symptoms often do not match the pattern of a specific medical condition and may be inconsistent or contradictory, making it difficult to diagnose and treat.

Question 10

Fugue states commonly last for months or even years.

Accepted Answer

Fugue states are a rare condition that typically last for a few hours to several days, but they do not typically last for months or years. However, in extremely rare cases, a fugue state could potentially last for an extended period of time.

Question 11

Experienced clinicians can reasonably determine whether or not people are faking amnesia
for their misdeeds.

Accepted Answer

Experienced clinicians have the knowledge and expertise to recognize signs and patterns of deception, which can help them determine whether or not someone is faking amnesia as a way to avoid responsibility for their actions. However, it is not always easy to detect and diagnose malingering, and additional tests and assessments may be required to confirm a diagnosis.

Question 12

The fugue state is considered psychotic because people with the disorder are unable to think
or behave normally.

Accepted Answer

A fugue state, or dissociative fugue, is not considered psychotic. It is characterized by reversible amnesia for personal identity, including the memories, personality, and other identifying characteristics of individuality, but does not inherently involve the loss of reality testing which is typical in psychotic disorders.

Question 13

Despite some sensationalistic cases in the media, the great majority of people with multiple
personalities were not physically or sexually abused as children.

Accepted Answer

While trauma, including physical and sexual abuse, has been identified as a common experience among individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), the statement that the great majority of people with multiple personalities were not physically or sexually abused as children is false. Research suggests that a high proportion of individuals with DID report experiencing severe childhood trauma, typically before the age of 6.

Question 14

No drugs have been developed to integrate alternate personalities in people with multiple
personalities.

Accepted Answer

There currently are no drugs specifically designed to integrate alternate personalities in individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). The treatment for this disorder typically involves therapy and addressing underlying trauma.

Question 15

Very few of us have episodes of feeling detached from our bodies or thought processes.

Accepted Answer

Many people experience episodes of feeling detached from their bodies or thought processes at some point in their lives, often described as dissociation, which can occur in response to stress, trauma, or other psychological factors.

Question 16

The great majority of cases previously diagnosed as hypochondriasis, would now be diagnosed under the DSM-5 criteria as having somatic symptom disorder.

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 changed the diagnosis of hypochondriasis to somatic symptom disorder. Therefore, most cases that were previously classified as hypochondriasis would now fall under the diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder.

Question 17

Dissociative identity disorder responds well to treatment with phenothiazines.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder is a complex disorder that involves dissociation of a person's identity. While there is no cure for the disorder, it can be treated with psychotherapy and sometimes medication. However, phenothiazines are not typically used for the treatment of dissociative identity disorder.

Question 18

The majority of children subjected to severe abuse in childhood develop some type of
dissociative disorder.

Accepted Answer

While many children who experience severe abuse may exhibit symptoms of trauma, not all develop dissociative disorders. The development of such disorders depends on a variety of factors including the nature of the abuse, the child's resilience, and the availability of supportive relationships and interventions.

Question 19

Individuals who express an extremely high level of health anxiety are likely to receive a diagnosis of the
newly recognized disorder in DSM-5 called illness anxiety disorder.

Accepted Answer

This statement is True. Illness anxiety disorder is a disorder in which an individual is preoccupied with the idea that they have a serious medical condition or illness, despite having no or mild symptoms. It was recognized as a disorder in DSM-5, and individuals with an extremely high level of health anxiety are likely to receive a diagnosis of this disorder.

Question 20

Depersonalization and derealization can motivate anxiety and avoidance behavior.

Accepted Answer

Depersonalization and derealization can lead to feelings of detachment and disconnection from oneself and one's surroundings, which can trigger anxiety and avoidance behaviors. This is because individuals may feel like they are in a dream-like state and lose a sense of control and familiarity with their environment, which can be distressing and uncomfortable. As a result, they may try to avoid situations or activities that trigger these symptoms, which can further exacerbate their anxiety and maintain their depersonalization and derealization experiences.

Quiz 6: Dissociative Disorders, Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders, and Psychological Factors Affecting Physical Health

People with hypochondriasis are consciously faking their symptoms.

Hysteria or conversion disorder cases are more common today than in Freud's era.

Available research suggests that treating dissociative disorders does not reduce symptoms.

The fact that conversion symptoms first appear in the context of, or are aggravated by, conflicts or stressors suggests a psychological connection.

People with somatic symptom disorder are not overly concerned about their troubling physical symptoms.

Some people show up repeatedly at hospital emergency rooms, feigning illness and seeking treatment for no apparent reason.

The DSM-5 lists conversion disorder as a subtype of illness anxiety disorder.

Conversion disorder is so named because of the psychodynamic belief that it represents the channeling, or conversion, of repressed sexual or aggressive energies into physical symptoms.

Most of the time, the bodily symptoms found in conversion disorder match the medical conditions they suggest.

Fugue states commonly last for months or even years.

Experienced clinicians can reasonably determine whether or not people are faking amnesia for their misdeeds.

The fugue state is considered psychotic because people with the disorder are unable to think or behave normally.

Despite some sensationalistic cases in the media, the great majority of people with multiple personalities were not physically or sexually abused as children.

No drugs have been developed to integrate alternate personalities in people with multiple personalities.

Very few of us have episodes of feeling detached from our bodies or thought processes.

The great majority of cases previously diagnosed as hypochondriasis, would now be diagnosed under the DSM-5 criteria as having somatic symptom disorder.

Dissociative identity disorder responds well to treatment with phenothiazines.

The majority of children subjected to severe abuse in childhood develop some type of dissociative disorder.

Individuals who express an extremely high level of health anxiety are likely to receive a diagnosis of the newly recognized disorder in DSM-5 called illness anxiety disorder.

Depersonalization and derealization can motivate anxiety and avoidance behavior.