Exam (elaborations) PSY101 Abnormal Psychology

Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders", focused on two categories of psychological conditions as defined by the DSM-5: ​Somatic Symptom Disorders: ​It explains the major changes in the DSM-5, specifically the consolidation of older diagnoses (like hypochondriasis, somatization disorder, and pain disorder) into the single Somatic Symptom Disorder. ​It emphasizes the shift in diagnostic focus from proving a lack of medical cause to assessing the individual's excessive and unhealthy thoughts, emotions, or behaviors related to their distressing physical symptoms. ​It covers specific conditions such as Illness Anxiety Disorder, Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder), and a culture-bound condition, Dhat Syndrome. ​It discusses concepts like la belle indifférence and the role of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treatment. ​Dissociative Disorders: ​It addresses conditions characterized by a disruption in the normal integration of memory, identity, or consciousness. ​A significant portion is dedicated to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder). ​It outlines that treatment for DID is often long-term, usually psychodynamic, and assumes the condition is linked to past trauma or abuse. ​The main goal of therapy is the integration of "alters" (alternate identities) into a single unified personality, and it discusses the use of hypnosis and the challenging outcomes of treatment. ​In essence, the document serves as a comprehensive overview of the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, causal factors, and treatment approaches for these two distinct but often grouped categories of abnormal psychology.