© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Abnormal Psychology, Eighth Edition by Gerald C. Davison and John M. Neale Lecture notes created by Paul J. Wellman, Texas A&M University PowerPoint  Lecture Notes Presentation Chapter 7 Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders Ch 7

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Somatoform Disorders Psychological factors produce physical symptoms in the Somatoform Disorders: –Conversion disorder involves a change in sensory/motor function –Somatization disorder involves recurrent, multiple somatic complaints –In pain disorder, chronic pain results in distress –Body dysmorphic disorder involves a preoccupation with an imagined physical defect – Hypochondriasis is a preoccupation with disease Ch 7.1

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Conversion Disorder Conversion Disorder involves sensory or motor symptoms –Not related to known physiology of the body E.g. glove anesthesia –Conversion symptoms appear suddenly –Conversion symptoms are related to stress –The person experiencing conversion disorder is not distressed by sudden paralysis or blindness Ch 7.2

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Somatization Disorder Somatization Disorder involves recurrent, multiple somatic complaints with no known physical basis Diagnostic criteria include: –Four pain symptoms in different locations –Two gastrointestinal symptoms –One sexual symptom other than pain –One pseudoneurological symptom Lifetime prevalence is < 0.5% Ch 7.3

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Etiology of Somatoform Disorders Somatization disorder reflects oversensitivity to physical sensations Conversion disorder –Psychoanalytic view focuses on unconscious complexes and secondary gain –Behavioral view focuses on similarity to malingering –The incidence of conversion disorder has declined, suggesting a role for social factors Ch 7.4

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Therapy for Conversion Disorders Conversion disorder clients seek help from physicians and resent referrals to psychotherapists –Psychoanalytic therapy is not effective for conversion disorder –The cognitive-behavioral approach involves pointing out selective attention to physical sensations and discouraging the client from seeking medical assistance Ch 7.5

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Dissociative Disorders Dissociative Disorders involve the inability to recall important personal events or identity –Dissociative amnesia is the inability to recall important personal information –Dissociative fugue involves extensive memory loss –Depersonalization disorder involves an alteration of a person’s self-experience –Dissociative identity disorder (DID) involves the presence of two different identities (alters) Ch 7.6

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Etiology of Dissociative Disorders Consciousness is normally a unified experience,consisting of cognition, emotion and motivation –Stress may alter the fashion in which memories are stored resulting in amnesia or fugue –DID may result from Severe physical/sexual abuse Learned social role enactment Ch 7.7

© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Davison and Neale: Abnormal Psychology, 8e Therapies for Dissociative Disorders Psychoanalytic therapy seeks to lift repressed memories Hypnosis is used in the treatment of DID Goal of therapy for DID is to –Integrate the several personalities –Help each alter understand that he or she is part of one person –Treat the alters with fairness and empathy Ch 7.8

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