Question 1

People with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) not only have troubling physical symptoms, but they ___________their symptoms to the extent that it affects their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in daily life.

Accepted Answer

People with SSD are excessively concerned about their physical symptoms to the extent that it causes distress or impairment in their daily life. They may become preoccupied with their symptoms, excessively worry about their health, and seek medical attention repeatedly, even when there is no clear physical cause for their symptoms.

Question 2

In DSM-5, which of the following is a somatic symptom and related disorder?

Accepted Answer

Factitious disorder is classified under somatic symptom and related disorders in the DSM-5. It involves an individual deliberately falsifying illness or injury for the purpose of assuming the sick role, without external incentives for such behavior.

Question 3

In ______ disorders, people show or complain of physical symptoms that have no identifiable physical cause.

Accepted Answer

Somatic symptom and related disorders are characterized by physical symptoms without a clear medical explanation. Somatic symptoms may include pain, fatigue, neurological symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms. These disorders often involve excessive worry or preoccupation with the symptoms, and can interfere with daily functioning.

Question 4

A cross-cultural similarity to the US was noted with a study in Turkey, which showed that the great majority of dissociative identity disorder patients reported___________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A cross-cultural similarity to the US was...

Question 5

A study that tracked use of medical care by patients with excessive somatic concerns found them to be heavy users of ________.

Accepted Answer

The study found that patients with excessive somatic concerns were heavy users of medical services, meaning they utilized medical care frequently. There is no indication in the question that these patients were heavy users of alcohol, caffeine, or illegal drugs.

Question 6

Somatic symptom and related disorders was formerly called_________ in the previous edition of the DSM.

Accepted Answer

Somatic symptom and related disorders were formerly known as somatoform disorders in the previous edition of the DSM.

Question 7

People with somatic symptom disorder have ______ somatic complaints.

Accepted Answer

People with somatic symptom disorder have multiple and persistent somatic complaints, which significantly disrupt daily life and are often accompanied by excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the symptoms. These symptoms can also cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Question 8

In previous versions of the DSM, people who are preoccupied or fearful that they have a serious or deadly illness are suffering from ______.

Accepted Answer

Hypochondriasis was the previous term used in the DSM to describe individuals who are preoccupied or fearful that they have a serious or deadly illness. However, this term has been replaced by Illness Anxiety Disorder in the most recent version of the DSM-5.

Question 9

Anna complains of physical problems, which date back to her adolescence. She has suffered from seizures, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, menstrual problems, chest pains,
And urinary problems. Although she really suffers from these symptoms, her doctors have
Never been able to find a physical cause. She is most likely suffering from ______.

Accepted Answer

Anna is experiencing physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a physical cause, which is a characteristic of somatic symptom disorder. Conversion disorder involves symptoms that are typically related to motor or sensory functions, such as paralysis or blindness, and are also not explained by physical causes. Hypochondriasis (now known as illness anxiety disorder) is a condition where a person is excessively worried about having a serious illness, even if there is no evidence of it. Munchausen syndrome refers to a person who intentionally feigns illness or produces symptoms in order to gain attention or sympathy. Anna's symptoms do not suggest this disorder.

Question 10

In order for someone to be diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder, the physical symptoms must be which of the following?

Accepted Answer

To receive a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder, the physical symptoms must be persistent and either cause significant personal distress or interfere with daily functioning. Intermittent symptoms or symptoms that require intrusive medical intervention do not necessarily warrant a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder. Life-threatening symptoms may indicate a different medical condition and should be evaluated by a medical professional immediately.

Question 11

The great majority of cases that were previously diagnosed as hypochondriasis would be classified as having __________in the DSM-5 system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The great majority of cases that were...

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder is a diagnosable somatic symptom and related disorder characterized by neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by medical evaluation.

Question 13

Dissociative identity disorder appears to ______.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder is often associated with a history of severe childhood abuse, and it is believed that the development of different identities (or alters) is a way of coping with and escaping from the trauma. The different alters may each hold memories or emotions related to the abuse, allowing the individual to compartmentalize their experiences and avoid overwhelming feelings of pain, fear, or shame.

Question 14

Although no longer a distinct diagnostic category in the DSM, the term hypochondriasis reflected individuals __________.

Accepted Answer

Hypochondriasis was a disorder characterized by individuals with physical complaints who believed their symptoms were due to a serious, undetected illness. While they may have undergone multiple medical tests, they often did not accept reassurance from healthcare providers that they were healthy. This condition is now considered part of the somatic symptom and related disorders category in the DSM-5.

Question 15

Physical or sexual abuse of a child by a relative or _______ is most frequently involved in the development of dissociative disorders.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that physical or sexual abuse of a child by a caretaker, such as a parent or family member, is the most common cause of dissociative disorders. While abuse by other individuals, such as teachers or doctors, can also lead to dissociative disorders, it is less common. The inclusion of priests in the question is likely due to the prevalence of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, but again, this type of abuse is less common overall than abuse by caretakers.

Question 16

The psychological disorder most closely linked to a history of child abuse is ______.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) is most closely linked to a history of child abuse. The dissociative nature of the disorder can be seen as a coping mechanism to deal with traumatic experiences.

Question 17

What has hampered efforts to conduct controlled experiments that compare different forms of treatments for dissociative disorders?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative disorders are relatively rare, which makes it difficult to recruit participants for controlled experiments.

Question 18

There is compelling evidence of a connection between dissociative identity disorder and ______.

Accepted Answer

The most widely accepted theory is that individuals with dissociative identity disorder have experienced severe and repeated childhood trauma or abuse, especially before the age of 6. Dissociation may have served as a coping mechanism to protect the individual from the overwhelming emotional pain associated with the traumatic experiences.

Question 19

Researchers report that ______ percent of people with dissociative identity disorder had been sexually abused in childhood.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that approximately 76-95% of individuals diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) have a history of childhood trauma, including sexual abuse. While not all individuals who experience childhood trauma develop DID, it is a significant risk factor for the development of the disorder.

Question 20

Many anxiety-related complaints such as trouble swallowing or breathing, or a "lump in the throat" can be traced to overactivity of the ______ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety-related symptoms such as trouble swallowing or breathing and a "lump in the throat" are often caused by overactivity of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, which controls the body's fight or flight response. This can lead to increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and muscle tension, contributing to these physical symptoms.

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