SECTION 3: SOMATOFORM AND DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS CHAPTER 16

SOMATOFORM DISORDERS Somatoform disorder- physical symptoms for which there is no apparent physical cause 2 types Conversion disorder- changing emotional difficulties into a loss of a specific voluntary body function Most psychologists believe people unconsciously invent physical symptoms to gain freedom from unbearable conflict ex. Woman who lives in terror of saying embarrassing may lose power of speech Hypochondriasis- person in good health becomes preoccupied with imaginary ailments often misinterprets minor aches and pains as early signs of a fatal illness Continues to believe this even after doctor states they are not sick

DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS Dissociative disorder- a person experiences alterations in memory, identity, or consciousness Dissociative amnesia- inability to remember important personal events or information No biological explanation, often occurs after traumatic event Dissociative fugue- person suddenly and unexpectedly travels away from home and is unable to recall the past Also called “traveling amnesia” Dissociative identity disorder- person exhibits two or more personality states, each with its own patterns of thinking and behaving Ex. Eve, Sybil People with these disorders usually suffered severe physical or sexual abuse as a child Learn to dissociate themselves from stressful events by selectively forgetting them, thereby reducing anxiety