Patient complains of multiple physical symptoms and refuses to accept negative test results
Tip: Somatisation = Symptoms
HypoChondriasis
Also known as illness anxiety disorder, hypochondriasis describes an irrational belief that oneself has an underlying serious condition (such as cancer) to such an extent that they will even refute the validity of negative test results
Tip: HypoChondriasis = Condition/Cancer
Conversion Disorder
Conversion disorder presents with a loss of motor or sensory function (which is not consciously feigned by the patient).
May be associated with la belle indifference (a paradoxical lack of concern regarding a seemingly serious issue) - the patient might not seem to care
Dissociative Disorders
A range of psychiatric disorders, usually as a result of trauma/stress (e.g. childhood trauma) with features including
A feeling of disconnect from the world
Amnesia - forgetting important personal information/ memories
Identity problems - feeling uncertain about who one is, multiple personality disorder
Patients can have episodes of dissociation (with above symptoms) for hours to months.
The 3 main dissociative disorders include:
Depersonalisation-derealisation
DID (dissociative identity disorder)
Dissociative amnesia
Factitious Disorder (Munchausen's)
FD is the intentional feigning of symptoms without a clear motivation
Malingering
Feigning of symptoms for personal gain (e.g. financial compensation, time off of work) etc.
