PSYCH257 Lecture : Abnormal Psychology 2nd CDN edition Chapter 6
16 Oct 2011
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May adapt treatments for related illnesses (eg. gad) Do not feel urgency to take action but continually feel weak and ill. Somatoform disorders: pre-occupation with health/appearance and general physical disorders. Dissociative disorders: detachments in consciousness or identity; may assume new one, forget etc. Historical link b/w two (orig. both known as hysterical neurosis, conversion hysteria) 5 basic somatoform disorders: individuals pathologically concerned with functioning of body. Clinical description: anxiety or fear of having a serious disease; essential problem: anxiety. Preoccupation w/ bodily symptoms, misinterpret as illness/disease; go to family doctor. Reassurance by doctor only short term; illness phobia: just fear of developing a disease. Similar to panic disorder; difference: hypoch"s focus on long-term illness process, range of symptoms. Statistics: unsure of prevalence in gen. population; 50-50 sex ratio; even on phases of adulthood. No average onset; culture specific syndromes; physicians must rule out somatic complaints first. Enhanced perceptual sensitivity to illness cues; runs in families, eg. tendency to overstress.
