Compare and contrast the treatment of somatic symptom disorders with the treatment of other psychological disorders.
What will be an ideal response?
Ans: Somatic symptom disorders represent an intersection between psychological and medical process. Their treatment therefore differs somewhat from the treatment of other psychological disorders. Individuals with somatic symptom disorders often seek the attention of medical rather than mental health professionals. The professional performing the diagnosis is therefore not one who is specialized in the treatment of the disorder. The medical professional will likely provide some education regarding the client’s stress and any symptoms they might report and may suggest that the symptoms will improve on their own. By the time they are discharged from medical care, about 50% of those with conversion disorder are asymptomatic. Education provided by medical doctors is therefore an important part of the treatment of somatic symptom disorders, and it distinguishes the treatment of these disorders from other mental disorders. The continued psychological treatment of those with somatic symptom disorders resembles that use in the case of anxiety disorders. It usually involves antidepressant medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT has been shown to reduce symptoms and psychological distress.
Learning Objective: 9.8 Identify the treatments available to individuals with dissociative and somatic system disorders.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Treatment for Somatic Symptom Disorders
Difficulty Level: Hard
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