Purchase Solution

Physical/Psychological Disordeers

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Somatoform, Factitious, and Dissociative Disorders

When a client presents physical ailments for which no medical evidence confirms a condition, the client's pain may not simply go away. Rather, the pain may persist, further disrupting the client's life. In these cases, psychological evaluations may be used to determine if any psychological disorders exist. Specifically, somatoform disorders, factitious disorders, and dissociative disorders may be considered for the client's diagnosis. Additionally, psychologists may also evaluate whether other confounding factors, such as environmental and/or individual variables, influence a diagnosis.

Please review the case study Consider the presenting symptoms of the client and any confounding factors that may influence diagnosis.

an Axes I through V diagnoses for the client in the case study and explain your rationale for assigning these diagnoses on the basis of the DSM-IV-TR. Then describe three confounding factors that may influence client diagnosis and why.

Sources doc: PSYC 8781 "Somatoform, Factitious, and Dissociative Disorders" Program Transcript

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

This solution discusses somatoform, Factitious, and Dissociative Disorders.

Solution Preview

Somatoform, Factitious, and Dissociative Disorders

When a client presents physical ailments for which no medical evidence confirms a condition, the client's pain may not simply go away. Rather, the pain may persist, further disrupting the client's life. In these cases, psychological evaluations may be used to determine if any psychological disorders exist. Specifically, somatoform disorders, factitious disorders, and dissociative disorders may be considered for the client's diagnosis. Additionally, psychologists may also evaluate whether other confounding factors, such as environmental and/or individual variables, influence a diagnosis.

*Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, [APA]. 2000, the patient must at least one or two of the following four features for somatic pain to be diagnosed with Somatoform Disorder.

(a) Four pain symptoms: a history of pain related to at least four different sites or functions (e.g., head, abdomen, back, joints, extremities, chest, rectum, during menstruation, during sexual intercourse, or during urination)
(b) Two gastrointestinal symptoms: a ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
V Axis Diagnostic Tool

It's important for all therapists to know what the V Axis Diagnostic tool is and how to use it. This quiz should be taken by learners who are not familiar with the V Axis Diagnostic Tool or who need to refresh their knowledge.

Abnormal Psychology

This quiz will explore the faucets of abnormal psychology, from the question of what is abnormal, to the intricacies of DSM diagnosable disorders.

Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Stages

Erik Erikson researched eight stages of psychosocial development beginning at birth and ending at death. This quiz challenges your knowledge of each stage, the corresponding age range, and the conflicts present during each stage.

Concepts in Personality Psychology

This quiz will test student's understanding of concepts relating to personality psychology.

Piaget's Theories on Development

Do you know all about Piaget's theories on development? Find out with this quiz!