Treatment FAQ

which category of disorders is often associated with unnecessary medical treatment?

by Axel Parisian Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Factitious disorder imposed on another, perhaps better known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, is a form of abuse in which a person fabricates illness for a dependent and puts them through unnecessary medical treatment.

Full Answer

What are the different types of mental health disorders?

Nov 14, 2017 · For years we’ve known that the incidence of breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma have been rising. There hasn’t, however, been a parallel increase in cancer-specific mortality. This implied that many cases are being picked up, likely through screening, that didn’t need to be.

What is a single unexplained symptom involving voluntary or sensory functioning?

Which category of disorders is often associated with unnecessary medical treatment? somatic symptom disorders Which of the following is a common characteristic of acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder?

What is illness anxiety disorder?

May 28, 2013 · For example, the widespread over-diagnosis of conditions such as bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), especially among children, is now being documented—the US Centers for Disease Control recently estimated that 6.4 million children aged 4 to 17 had received an ADHD diagnosis at some point …

What are the different types of emotional disorders?

Musculoskeletal disorders often require costly MRI scans and x-rays that can be misleading, resulting in treatments and surgeries that may provide only temporary or no relief for the patient. Municipal managers see this reality in their spiking health care and workers’ compensation costs, which often lead to greater lost time and lost productivity.

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What is the most common form of dissociative disorder?

Dissociative Amnesia This amnesia is usually related to a traumatic or stressful event and may be: localized – unable to remember an event or period of time (most common type)

What is dissociative behavior?

Dissociative disorders are mental disorders that involve experiencing a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity. People with dissociative disorders escape reality in ways that are involuntary and unhealthy and cause problems with functioning in everyday life.Nov 17, 2017

Which of the following is a common characteristic of acute stress disorder?

A striking characteristic feature of acute stress disorder is the presence of prominent dissociative symptoms, including 'being in a daze', derealisation, depersonalisation, and amnesia for key aspects of the traumatic experience (dissociative amnesia).

Which of the following is a common characteristic of acute stress disorder and PTSD?

Similarities Between ASD and PTSD Both acute stress disorder and PTSD result from experiencing or being exposed to trauma. As a result of the trauma, the individual struggles with a sense of emotional dysregulation, heightened arousal and a tendency to avoid triggering situations, people or events.Aug 31, 2021

What are the four types of dissociative disorders?

Dissociative disorders include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, depersonalisation disorder and dissociative identity disorder. People who experience a traumatic event will often have some degree of dissociation during the event itself or in the following hours, days or weeks.

What are the 5 dissociative disorders?

DSM-5 Dissociative DisordersDissociative identity disorder (DID) DSM5 code 300.14 (ICD-10 F44. ... Dissociative amnesia including Dissociative Fugue DSM5 code 300.12 (ICD-10 F44. ... Depersonalization/Derealization disorder DSM5 code 300.6 (ICD-10 F48. ... Other Specified Dissociative Disorder DSM5 code 300.16 (ICD-10 F44.More items...

What is chronic stress disorder?

Chronic stress is a prolonged and constant feeling of stress that can negatively affect your health if it goes untreated. It can be caused by the everyday pressures of family and work or by traumatic situations.Dec 7, 2020

What is acute stress disorder DSM 5?

The DSM-5 describes acute stress disorder as the development of specific fear behaviors that last from 3 days to 1 month after a traumatic event. These symptoms always occur after the patient has experienced or witnessed death or threat of death, serious injury or sexual assault.

What is acute stress disorder?

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is an intense and unpleasant reaction that develops in the weeks following a traumatic event. Symptoms typically last for one month or less. If symptoms persist beyond one month, affected individuals are considered to have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Nov 16, 2021

What are the three symptom categories of PTSD?

The diagnosis of PTSD is further characterized by three distinct symptom clusters: (1) re-experiencing of the traumatic event through such phenomena as dreams, flashbacks, and intrusive, distressing thoughts; (2) avoidance and numbing, characterized by such phenomena as avoidance of trauma reminders and numbing of ...Dec 8, 2007

How does DSM-5 differ from DSM-IV in its classification of posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD )?

Changes to the diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV to DSM-5 include: the relocation of PTSD from the anxiety disorders category to a new diagnostic category named “Trauma and Stressor-related Disorders”, the elimination of the subjective component to the definition of trauma, the explication and tightening of the ...Feb 13, 2017

Which of the following is the main difference between the diagnosis of acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder?

The most significant difference between ASD and PTSD is the onset and duration of symptoms. The effects of ASD present immediately and last up to a month, while PTSD symptoms present slower and last longer, up to several years if not treated.Oct 2, 2019

What is the difference between malingering and factitious disorder?

In factitious disorder, patients adopt physical symptoms for unconscious internal gain (i.e., the patient desires to take on the role of being sick), whereas malingering involves the purposeful feigning of physical symptoms for external gain (e.g., financial or legal benefit, avoidance of undesirable situations).

What are the clinical criteria for somatoform disorders?

There are three required clinical criteria common to each of the somatoform disorders: The physical symptoms (1) cannot be fully explained by a general medical condition, another mental disorder, or the effects of a substance; (2) are not the result of factitious disorder or malingering; and (3) cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other functioning. The additional characteristics of each disorder are discussed briefly in the following and are listed in Table 1. 1

Why is a follow up visit important?

A schedule of regular, brief follow-up office visits with the physician is an important aspect of treatment. 13 This maintains the therapeutic alliance with the physician, provides a climate of openness and willingness to help, 25 allows the patient an outlet for worry about illness and the opportunity to be reassured repeatedly that the symptoms are not signs of a physical disorder, and allows the physician to confront problems or issues proactively. Scheduled visits may also prevent frequent and unnecessary between-visit contacts and reduce excessive health care use. 26

What is somatoform disorder?

The somatoform disorders are a group of psychiatric disorders in which patients present with a myriad of clinically significant but unexplained physical symptoms. They include somatization disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, hypochondriasis, conversion disorder, pain disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, ...

How long does somatization last?

Patients with somatization disorder (also known as Briquet's syndrome) present with unexplained physical symptoms beginning before 30 years of age, lasting several years, and including at least two gastrointestinal complaints, four pain symptoms, one pseudoneurologic problem, and one sexual symptom ( Table 2). 1 For example, a patient might have chronic abdominal complaints (e.g., abdominal cramping, diarrhea) that have been thoroughly evaluated but have no identified cause, as well as a history of other unexplained somatic symptoms such as anorgasmia, ringing in the ears, and chronic pain in the shoulder, neck, low back, and legs. Patients with this disorder often have made frequent clinical visits, had multiple imaging and laboratory tests, and had numerous referrals made to work up their diverse symptoms.

Is pain a psychological disorder?

Pain disorder is fairly common. Although the pain is associated with psychological factors at its onset (e.g., unexplained chronic headache that began after a significant stressful life event), its onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance may also be associated with a general medical condition. Pain is the focus of the disorder, but psychological factors are believed to play the primary role in the perception of pain. Patients with pain disorder use the health care system frequently, make substantial use of medication, and have relational problems in marriage, work, or family. Pain may lead to inactivity and social isolation, and it is often associated with comorbid depression, anxiety, or a substance-related disorder.

Is somatoform disorder a psychiatric disorder?

SOMATOFORM DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. Somatoform disorder not otherwise specified is a psychiatric diagnosis used for conditions that do not meet the full criteria for the other somatoform disorders, but have physical symptoms that are misinterpreted or exaggerated with resultant impairment.

What is the term for a person who has a high level of anxiety?

Illness anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondriasis, is characterized by a preoccupation with having a serious, undiagnosed medical condition. Individuals will have multiple visits to a healthcare professional, complain of many vague symptoms and has a high level of anxiety about their health.

What is body dysmorphic disorder?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5 ), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is classified under obsessive compulsive disorders and the individual must have be preoccupied with a nonexistent or of slight flaw in their physical appearance where they think about this flaw for at least one hour a day and perform repetitive compulsive behaviors directly associated with their preoccupation for their flaw. Individuals with body dysmoprhic disorder often portray the following behaviors: 1 Ritualistic behaviors to confirm their physical “defect”. This can include constant checking in the mirror, touching that specific area of the body or actively avoiding the “defects” recognition by others by covering that area of the body up with clothing, makeup or tattoos. 2 The constant need for constant reassurance from others 3 An enormous amount of time (1 hour or more, sometimes as much as 8 hours) daily on thoughts and behaviors relating to the “defect” 4 Repeated visits to dermatologists or cosmetic surgeons for correction of this “defect”

What is the fear of gaining weight?

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by the intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, inability to maintain a minimally normal weight and extreme dietary habits that prevent weight gain. There are two subtypes of anorexia nervosa known as the restricting type and the bing-eating/purging type. Most individuals associate anorexia ...

What is the condition where food is regurgitated?

Achalasia. Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder that occurs due to the impairment of the lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle that relaxes and contracts when food is swallowed). Food is unable to pass from the esophagus into the stomach and as a result food is regurgitated.

Is bulimia nervosa a disorder?

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that is most common among young adults that is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative or diuretic use to avoid weight gain caused by the binging episodes. There is a binge/purge subtype of anorexia nervosa therefore these two eating disorders are often mistaken for each other. The difference in body weight is the main classification that separates anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa. The majority of individuals with anorexia nervosa are underweight as they have an intense fear of gaining weight and are unable to maintain a minimally normal weight where as the majority of individuals with bulimia nervosa are normal weight or overweight.

Is anorexia nervosa a binge?

There is a binge/purge subtype of anorexia nervosa therefore these two eating disorders are often mistaken for each other. The difference in body weight is the main classification that separates anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa. The majority of individuals with anorexia nervosa are underweight as they have an intense fear ...

What is a BDD?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5 ), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is classified under obsessive compulsive disorders and the individual must have be preoccupied with a nonexistent or of slight flaw in their physical appearance where they think about this flaw for at least one hour a day and perform repetitive compulsive behaviors directly associated with their preoccupation for their flaw. Individuals with body dysmoprhic disorder often portray the following behaviors:

Diabetes 2 drug warnings

Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., we are told. The high blood sugar levels that define this disorder are linked to a higher than normal risk of heart attack, stroke, and many nerve complications. Unfortunately, the drugs prescribed to lower this risk come with complications of their own.

U.S. medical care: A critique with proposals for change

It has taken a long time to sink in. The United States does not have the best medical care in the world. We are spending far more than other industrialized countries and showing poorer outcomes.

Drugs for mild hypertension

Are you taking drugs for mild hypertension, yet you’ve not had a heart attack, stroke, or a diagnosis of heart disease? A new review of all studies that followed people who fit this description could not find a benefit to drug treatment.

Time to rethink low-dose aspirin therapy?

Here’s a new slant on the daily low-dose aspirin routine followed by millions of Americans: You might want to stop, if you don’t have heart disease or are at low risk for it. Why? The chance of having a rare but serious side effect from aspirin therapy may be higher than the chance of avoiding a heart attack or stroke.

Drugs to prevent heart problems

Congratulations to the two cardiologists who went public with crucial information rarely explained to the public. Their target: Heart drugs prescribed to healthy people who are expected take them every day for the rest of their lives.

45 medical tests or treatments to avoid

Our medical care system has become a danger, an expensive, wasteful danger at that. So what else is new? You might ask. Now doctors themselves are recognizing the problem and going public with warnings, specifying tests and treatments to avoid under certain circumstances.

Drugs to treat the flu

Tamiflu, the anti-viral drug widely prescribed to treat influenza, is in the medical news again and not just because it’s flu season. Roche, the Swiss company that makes this topselling flu drug, has once again refused to release all of its study results—crucial, considering that Roche conducted all the studies.

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Overview

  • The somatoform disorders are a group of psychiatric disorders that cause unexplained physical symptoms. They include somatization disorder (involving multisystem physical symptoms), undifferentiated somatoform disorder (fewer symptoms than somatization disorder), conversion disorder (voluntary motor or sensory function symptoms), pain disorder (pain with strong psych…
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Diagnosis

  • The challenge in working with somatoform disorders in the primary care setting is to simultaneously exclude medical causes for physical symptoms while considering a mental health diagnosis. The diagnosis of a somatoform disorder should be considered early in the process of evaluating a patient with unexplained physical symptoms. Appropriate nonpsychiatric medical c…
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Symptoms

  • There are three required clinical criteria common to each of the somatoform disorders: The physical symptoms (1) cannot be fully explained by a general medical condition, another mental disorder, or the effects of a substance; (2) are not the result of factitious disorder or malingering; and (3) cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other functioning. The additiona…
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Epidemiology

  • Somatization disorder appears to be more common in women than men, with a lifetime prevalence of 0.2 to 2 percent in women compared with less than 0.2 percent in men. Subthreshold somatization disorder may have a prevalence up to 100 times greater. Familial patterns exist, with a 10 to 20 percent incidence in first-degree female relatives.1 No definitive c…
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Treatment

  • Discussing the diagnosis requires forethought and practice.12 The delivery of the diagnosis may be the most important treatment step. The physician must first build a therapeutic alliance with the patient. This can be partially achieved by acknowledging the patient's discomfort with his or her unexplained physical symptoms and maintaining a high degree of empathy toward the patie…
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Management

  • Once the diagnosis is made and the patient accepts the diagnosis and treatment goals, the physician may treat any psychiatric comorbidities. Psychiatric disorders rarely exist in isolation, and somatoform disorders are no exception. Clinically significant depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, and substance abuse disorder often coexist with somatoform dis…
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Medical uses

  • Studies supporting the effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions targeting specific somatoform disorders are limited. Antidepressants are commonly used to treat depressive or anxiety disorders and may be part of the approach to treating the comorbidities of somatoform disorders. Antidepressants such as fluvoxamine (Luvox, brand not available) for treating body d…
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Benefits

  • A schedule of regular, brief follow-up office visits with the physician is an important aspect of treatment.13 This maintains the therapeutic alliance with the physician, provides a climate of openness and willingness to help,25 allows the patient an outlet for worry about illness and the opportunity to be reassured repeatedly that the symptoms are not signs of a physical disorder, a…
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Resources

  • 1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. rev. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000....
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