Somatoform disorder Factitious Disorder

Somatoform Disorders A condition in which there is no apparent cause. Occurs when an individual represses emotions and then expresses them symbolically in physical form.

Types of Somatoform disorders Conversion disorders - May lose function of body part / wake up paralyzed but appear relatively calm about the issue. (A major sign that this is psychological – not physiological – problem. Hypochondriasis – when a person in good health becomes preoccupied with imaginary ailments.

Types of Somatoform Disorders cont. Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Is a preoccupation with a defect in appearance. The defect is either imagined, or, if a slight physical difference is present, the person concern is noticeably extreme. Part I

Factitious Disorders mental disorders in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when, in fact, he or she has consciously created his or her symptoms.

Types of Factitious Disorders Münchausen’s Syndrome – The person with the disorder can be causing severe physical harm to themselves in order to receive attention. Münchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy – The proxy can be severely injured because they are usually infants being harmed by the parents for attention which is considered child abuse CLIP FROM “THE SIXTH SENSE” 1:20 min in