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"somatoform disorder") is a form of mental illness that causes one or more bodily
symptoms, including pain. The symptoms may or may not be traceable to a physical
cause including general medical conditions, other mental illnesses, or substance abuse.
But regardless, they cause excessive and disproportionate levels of distress. The
symptoms can involve one or more different organs and body systems, such as:
Pain
Neurologic problems
Gastrointestinal complaints
Sexual symptoms
Many people who have SSD will also have an anxiety disorder.
People with SSD are not faking their symptoms. The distress they experience from pain
and other problems they experience are real, regardless of whether or not a physical
explanation can be found. And the distress from symptoms significantly affects daily
functioning.Doctors need to perform many tests to rule out other possible causes before
diagnosing SSD.
The diagnosis of SSD can create a lot of stress and frustration for patients. They may
feel unsatisfied if there's no better physical explanation for their symptoms or if they are
told their level of distress about a physical illness is excessive. Stress often leads
patients to become more worried about their health, and this creates a vicious cycle that
can persist for years.
Somatic symptom disorders are a group of disorders, all of which fit the definition of
physical symptoms similar to those observed in physical disease or injury for which
there is no identifiable physical cause. As such, they are a diagnosis of exclusion. They
are recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the
American Psychiatric Association as the following:
Psychotherapy
Limit or remove attention for pain behavior. Parents should limit their discussion
and attention to their child's reports of pain. When your child tells you about pain,
you should briefly respond by acknowledging your child's pain but keep the
discussion to a minimum. For example, you could tell your child that you are
sorry the pain has returned and encourage him or her to use relaxation or the
coping skills he or she has been taught. If you continue to talk about your child's
pain, your child will be unable to shift his or her attention from the pain to other
activities, such as homework or play.
Be sure that your child goes to school each day. If your child complains of a
stomachache or headache in the morning before school, limit your discussion
about it. Continue your morning routine, making it clear to your child that he or
she will be going to school. If your child reports pain at school, please arrange for
the teacher, principal, or school nurse to have your child rest quietly for a brief
period and then return to the classroom. Interrupted activities (eg, school tests)
should be resumed when your child returns to the class or, if necessary, be
rescheduled at the earliest possible convenience. There will be times when your
child is sick and needs to stay home. Signs and symptoms of illness (eg, fever,
runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea) are different from those of chronic
stomachaches. Any new symptoms should be reported to your child's doctor.
Help your child identify stress at home and school. Be sure that you know when
your child is experiencing stress about certain home or school activities. Only you
and your child will know what might be bothering him or her, but some examples
include visits from relatives, tests in school, book reports or special projects due,
and teasing from friends. When your child is under stress, be sure that you have
discussed with the therapist ways to help your child cope with stress. Coping
skills may help your child learn ways to handle stressful situations that might be
related to episodes of pain.
STI College Sta. Cruz
S.Y 2016-2017
Somatoform Disorder
Prepared By :
Arianne Leonore Epino
Henzelyn Rose Alegro
Leila Franchesca Gube
Jade Michelle Lasola
Princess Jhaira Mae M. Meraña