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Chapter 8: Dissociative and Somatoform Disorders

Terms in this set (16)

hysteria
an emotional condition marked by extreme excitability and bodily symptoms for which there is no medical explanation; hysteria is not a DSM-IV-TR disorder
dissociation
the separation of mental processes-such as perception, memory, and self-awareness-that are normally integrated
amnesia
memory loss, which is usually temporary but, in rare cases, may be permanent
identity problem
a dissociative symptom in which an individual is not sure who he or she is or may assume a new identity
derealization
a dissociative symptom in which the external world is perceived or experienced as strange or unreal
depersonalization
a dissociative symptom in which the perception or experience of self-either one's body or one's mental processes-is altered to the point of feeling like an observer, as though seeing oneself from the "outside"
dissociative disorders
a category of psychological disorders in which perception, consciousness, memory, or identity are dissociated to the point where the symptoms are pervasive, cause significant distress, and interfere with daily functioning
dissociative amnesia
a dissociative disorder in which the sufferer has significantly impaired memory for important experiences or personal information that cannot be explained by ordinary forgetfulness
dissociative fugue
a dissociative disorder that involves sudden, unplanned travel and difficulty remembering the past, which can lead patients to be confused about who they are and sometimes to take on a new identity
depersonalization disorder
a dissociative disorder whose primary symptom is a persistent feeling of being detached from one's mental processes or body, although people who have this disorder may also experience derealization
dissociative identity disorder (DID)
the dissociative disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct alters (personality states or identities) each with their own characteristics and history, that take turns controlling the person's behavior
somatization disorder (SD)
a somatoform disorder characterized by multiple physical symptoms that are medically unexplained and impair and individual's ability to function
pain disorder
a somatoform disorder that occurs when psychological factors significantly affect the onset, severity, or maintenance of significant pain
conversion disorder
a somatoform disorder that involves sensory of motor symptoms that do not correspond to symptoms that arise from known medical conditions
hypochondriasis
a somatoform disorder marked by a preoccupation with a fear or belief of having a serious disease, but this preoccupation arises because the individual has misinterpreted his or her bodily sensations or symptoms
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