Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

Although many different definitions of psychological abnormality have been proposed throughout the years, none has gained widespread approval. Nonetheless, most definitions have key characteristics, known as the “four Ds”: deviation, distress, dysfunction, and danger. That is, psychological disorders are deviant (unusual, extreme, even bizarre), distressing (unpleasant and upsetting to the person and others), dysfunctional (interfering with the person’s ability to carry out daily activities in a productive manner), and potentially dangerous (to the person or others). There is no such thing as an “ideal model” or even a “typical model” of human behaviour to compare in psychology. 

Historical Background

To comprehend psychiatric diseases, we need a brief historical overview of how they have been considered throughout history. When we look back at the history of abnormal psychology, we see that some hypotheses have shown up repeatedly. According to one ancient notion being used today, the work of supernatural and magical powers such as wicked spirits (bhoot-pret) or the devil can explain anomalous behaviour (shaitan). Exorcism, or the removal of evil from a person by countermagic and prayer, is still practised today. The shaman, also known as a medicine man (Ojha), is a person who is believed to have communication with supernatural forces and serves as a conduit for spirits to speak with humans in various cultures.

Psychological disorder classification 

We must first define psychological diseases to comprehend them. A list of distinct psychological diseases is organised into several groups based on similar criteria in a taxonomy of such disorders. Classifications are helpful because they allow users such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers to communicate about the disorder with one another and aid in understanding the origins of psychological illnesses and the processes that lead to their development and maintenance. The tenth revision of the International Categorization of Diseases (ICD-10), often known as the ICD-10 Classification of Behavioural and Mental Disorders, is the official classification scheme used in India and abroad.

Factors involved in abnormal activities

• Psychologists employ a variety of methodologies to comprehend something as complicated as aberrant behaviour. Each current method emphasises a particular component of human behaviour and explains and treats aberrant behaviour following that feature. Different aspects such as biological, psychological, interpersonal, and socio-cultural factors are also highlighted in these methods. We’ll look at a few of the theories that are currently being employed to explain unusual behaviour.

• Biological variables have an impact on every part of our lives. Various biological causes, such as defective genes, hormone imbalances, starvation, traumas, and other disorders, can obstruct the normal growth and functioning of the human body. The biological model has previously been discussed.

• Bipolar and associated illnesses, schizophrenia, intellectual impairment, and other psychiatric diseases have all been connected to genetic causes. However, researchers have not pinpointed the exact genes that are to blame. In most situations, it appears that no one gene is responsible for a certain behaviour or psychiatric illness.

• In reality, numerous genes work together to cause our diverse behaviours and emotional reactions, both healthy and unhealthy. Although there is compelling evidence that genetic/biochemical variables have a role in mental diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and others, biology alone cannot explain most mental disorders.

• Several psychological models may be used to explain mental diseases. Psychological and interpersonal elements, according to these ideas, psychological and interpersonal elements have a substantial influence on aberrant behaviour. Maternal deprivation (separation from the mother, or a lack of warmth and stimulation in the early years of life), faulty parent-child relationships (rejection, overprotection, over-permissiveness, faulty discipline, etc.), maladaptive family structures (inadequate or disturbed family), and severe stress are some of these factors.

• The behavioural model is another approach that emphasises the importance of psychological elements. This concept claims that both normal and pathological behaviours are taught and that learning maladaptive behaviours leads to psychiatric problems. The paradigm focuses on conditioning-induced behaviours and suggests that learning may be undone.

Symptoms of Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders

These are situations where physical symptoms exist in the lack of a physical ailment. Individuals with these diseases have psychological issues and physical symptoms for which there is no medical explanation. Conversion disorders, somatic disorder symptom disorder, and sickness anxiety disorder are only a few examples.

A person with somatic disorder symptom disorder has persistent body-related symptoms that may or may not be connected to significant medical disease. People with this illness are fascinated with their symptoms to the point of obsession, and they are always concerned about their health and contact physicians regularly. As a result, people are distressed and have considerable disruptions in their everyday lives.

Illness anxiety disorder is characterised by a continuous fear of acquiring a major illness and frequent worry. This is accompanied by health-related worry. Individuals with sickness anxiety disorder are too anxious about undetected diseases and bad diagnostic results. They are quickly startled about illness, such as when hearing about someone else’s illness or other such news.

Medical diseases focus on somatic symptom disorder and sickness anxiety disorder. The difference, however, is in the manner in which this worry is presented. In the case of somatic disorder symptom disorder, this statement refers to physical problems. Still, in the case of sickness anxiety disorder, the major worry is anxiety, as the name implies. 

The reported loss of part or all of certain essential bodily functions is a sign of conversion diseases. The most common symptoms recorded are paralysis, blindness, deafness, and trouble walking. These symptoms commonly appear after a stressful event and might be rather unexpected.

Conclusion 

Somatic symptom disorder treatment and associated disorders are mental health conditions marked by a preoccupation with physical (bodily) sensations that causes severe discomfort and interfere with everyday functioning. Mental symptoms represent the majority of mental health illnesses. People’s ideas, feelings, and behaviours are odd or unpleasant. In somatic symptom disorder treatment, however, mental aspects are conveyed as physical symptoms (a process known as somatisation), including pain, weakness, exhaustion, nausea, or other bodily sensations. However, when a medical illness is present, a person with a somatic disorder symptom or a linked disorder overreact.