Question

Define and describe the following somatoform disorders: Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondrias), Conversion Disorder, Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome, . Which disorder do you believe to have the most grieves outcomes? Explain your view point.

Answer 1

@Ferredoxin4

Answer 2

Somatoform disorders

IAD (hypochondriasis) - As of DSM-V, Hypochondriasis is no longer used. It is now considered just IAD. This is where you simply interpret normal physical sensations as a disease. For example, this is where one thinks a callus is a cancerous tumor, though it's really just a callus.

Conversion Disorder - Neurologic symptoms or damage with no physical cause. This is usually due to tramautic experiences. A common example: A father turns blind without physical cause after watching his daughter in a car crash.

Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome - It's a big name, but it's just lying or faking about a disease, and it's purposeful. It's common in caregivers (ie babysitters) where they fake an illness to get out of their job. Police officers use this as a sign for child abuse.

Of the 3, the most grievous is, of course, a conversion disorder, as there is actually some damage without physical cause. The others involve conscious decisions, even IAD. Conversion disorders are much deeper and require actual medical intervention.