Somatoform and Factitious Disorders

                                                               Somatoform Disorders

Somatoform disorders manifest as physical problems implying a medical problem but one is not found or complaints are in excess of what symptoms of gen med condition should be. 

Somatization Disorder – combo of pain (must have 4 different sites), gastrointestinal (must have 2 symptoms), sexual (1), and pseudoneurological symptoms (1); develops before the age of 30 and lasts over several years

                Undifferentiated Somatoform D/o – physical complaints that cannot be explained; lasts at least 6 months

Conversion d/o – symptoms affect motor or sensory function

Pain D/o – preoccupied with pain

Hypochondriasis – fear of having an illness or disease based on misinterpretation of physical symptoms

Body Dysmorphic D/o – perception of defect in physical appearance

Somatoform D/o NOS

Factitious Disorders

In a factitious d/o, client claims to have physical, mental, or emotional symptoms that aren’t real and are caused by internal inducements. They are intentionally produced or faked in order to be in the victim or sick role.

Factitious D/o – intentional, motivation to be sick role, external incentive for bx are absent

Factitious D/o NOS – does not match criteria for factitious d/c such as producing symptoms in another for purpose of assuming sick role indirectly

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnositc and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Text Revision, 4^th ed. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.