Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders Chapter 16 Section 3 Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders

Somatoform Disorders Somatoform Disorders, or Psychosomatic Disorders, have physical symptoms for which there is no known physical cause. Psycho= mind Soma= body

Somatoform Disorders It was once believed that somatoform disorders happened only in women, as a result of hysteria. Hysteria comes from the Greek word for “uterus”, because a woman was believed to be hysterical when her uterus was wandering around her body!

Somatoform Disorders Conversion Disorders: one converts emotional difficulty into the loss of a specific physiological function. i.e., blindness, numbness of limbs, paralysis of legs, fainting, etc. No physical damage. Persists (not temporary). Believed that patients unconsciously invent physical symptoms to escape psychological conflict.

Somatoform Disorders Hypochondriasis: A healthy person believes he/she has many different illnesses. Usually from repressing emotions (i.e. rejection), then they are expressed symbolically in physical symptoms.

Somatoform Disorders

Dissociative Disorders Person experiences changes in memory, consciousness, or identity. Dissociative amnesia (usually from trauma): inability to recall important personal events. Dissociative fugue (also called “traveling amnesia): suddenly leaves home for an extended period of time, and is unable to remember the past, or how one got to the present location.

Dissociative Disorders Dissociative identity disorder (also called multiple personality disorder): one person has two or more distinct identities that take over at different times. May be a result of severe physical, psychological, or sexual abuse during childhood.

The Real Sybil Shirley Ardell Mason (Jan. 1923-Feb. 1998) Commercial artist and psych patient. Was a substitute teacher in and student at Columbia University in the 1950’s. Often suffered from blackouts and emotional breakdowns. Entered psychotherapy with Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, a Freudian psychologist. Their sessions are the basis for the book and movie Sybil. Taught art classes and ran an art gallery from her home in Lexington, Kentucky. Died of breast cancer in 1998.

Munchausen’s Syndrome (a.k.a Hospital Addiction Syndrome) The patient usually is very sensitive to emotional pain, and will go to great lengths to avoid feeling it. Instead, they self-induce or self-define physical symptoms or illnesses. They are aware that they are lying/exaggerating. This can often be deadly. Their ultimate goal is to have the doctor take extraordinary measures to save their life. Seems to be a “cry for help” or a way to obtain nurturing care and attention. The role of “patient” is familiar and comforting.

Munchausen’s by Proxy Rather than fake illnesses in themselves, they will fake illnesses in someone else, mainly their child. This can result in severe physical illness and death. Munchausen mothers seemingly do this to gain attention, sympathy, money, and essentially to escape their own psychological discomfort.

Munchausen’s by Proxy Kathleen Bush was found guilty of intentionally making her daughter, Jennifer, severely sick. By the time Jenny was 8 years old, she had spent 640 days in the hospital and had 40 needless surgeries. Her gall bladder, appendix, and part of her intestine were removed. The case even attracted the attention of First Lady Hilary Clinton in 1999.

Murder of Sandra Cantu: March 2009 8 year old Sandra Cantu was murdered by her neighbor and playmate’s mom Melissa Huckaby in Tracy, CA