Somatisation and Conversion disorders

Question 1

Somatisation disorder definition

Answer 1

multiple physical SYMPTOMS present for at least 2 years
patient refuses to accept reassurance or negative test results

Question 2

Illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriasis) definition

Answer 2

• persistent belief in the presence of an underlying serious DISEASE, e.g. cancer
• patient again refuses to accept reassurance or negative test results
  hypoChondria = Cancer

Question 3

Conversion disorder definition

Answer 3

• typically involves loss of motor or sensory function
• the patient doesn’t consciously feign the symptoms (factitious disorder) or seek material gain (malingering)
• patients may be indifferent to their apparent disorder - la belle indifference - although this has not been backed up by some studies

Question 4

Dissociative disorder definition

Answer 4

• dissociation is a process of ‘separating off’ certain memories from normal consciousness
• in contrast to conversion disorder involves psychiatric symptoms e.g. Amnesia, fugue, stupor
• dissociative identity disorder (DID) is the new term for multiple personality disorder as is the most severe form of dissociative disorder

Question 5

Factitious disorder definition

Answer 5

• also known as Munchausen’s syndrome
• the intentional production of physical or psychological symptoms

Question 6

Malingering definition

Answer 6

fraudulent simulation or exaggeration of symptoms with the intention of financial or other gain

Question 7

What is Hoover’s sign and what does it indicate?

Answer 7

Hoover’s sign is a quick and useful clinical tool to differentiate organic from non-organic leg paresis. In non-organic paresis, pressure is felt under the paretic leg when lifting the non-paretic leg against pressure, this is due to involuntary contralateral hip extension