Theoretical Explanation of Somatoform disorder - Research Paper Example

Case Study Development and Theoretical Explanation Case Study Development and Theoretical Explanation Recent studies indicate thatstress is the major cause of psychological and physical complications in contemporary society. In most cases, stress and depression are by-products of anxiety, panic, and fear. By referring to DSM-IV-TR, somatoform is infrequent complications among United States of America men. According to DSM-IV-TR statistics, more than 2% of United States of America women and less than 0.

2% suffers from somatoform disorder annually. Somatoform symptoms vary from one culture to another. Somatoform disorder takes different forms including pain disorder, hypochondrias disorder, somatisation disorder, body dysmorphic disorder as well as conversion disorder. Somatoform disorder is a psychiatric medical condition that is marked by numerous inexplicable psychological and physical symptoms (Allen, Robert, Woolfolk, Lehrer, Gara, 2001). Patients with somatoform disorder suffer from numerous physical symptoms.

Some of the main signs and symptoms of somatoform disorder include, sore muscles, back pain, fatigue, imagined physical defects or deformities, poor balance and coordination loss of appetite, headache, abnormal stress and anxiety. The symptoms of somatoform disorder have severe impacts on individuals’ occupational and social functioning. Fictional Cases Mr Y, 70 years-old married man and a retired technician complained of sleep disturbance. The old man as well claimed to be suffering from loss of appetite and irritability in the last 6 months.

Moreover, Mr. Y asserts to have been encountering dizziness and consistent headache. The man also had a sensation of tension in his chest. Two month prior to visiting the hospital for diagnosis and treatment, Mr. Y had several episodes of chest complications and pain. The man claimed to have been suffering from chronic pain since his adolescence age. Mr Y was also extremely sensitive to certain food, had consistent diarrhoea, and nausea. After intensive interrogation, the patient also confirmed to be suffering from sexual and reproductive complications that included intensive pain during intercourse and erectile dysfunctions.

Results from all examination including test for ischemic heart disorder were normal. After the completion of all investigations, the man was referred for psychiatric consultation. Treatment The most effective mean of treating Mr. Y is to use cognitive behaviour therapy. By relying on cognitive behaviour therapy, the health practitioner will be seeking to change the existing negative behaviours, feeling, and thought that results to somatic symptoms. The cognitive component of the approach will as well aim at helping the patient in identifying and dealing with dysfunctional thinking regarding physical sensations.

After consistent practice, Mr. Will is expected to identify the catastrophic thinking and develop realistic explanation for his feeling. The behavioural aspect of cognitive-behavioural therapy will focus on increasing the patient’s activity. Mr. Y is also expected to increase his daily activities to avoid overexertion that reinforces fear and frustration. To realise the best result from the approach, Mr Y is as well supposed to undertake communication skills training, sleep hygiene, and relaxation training.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy will also help in reducing discomfort and distress that are linked to somatoform disorder. Medications will as well play an essential role in reducing the expressed symptoms of somatoform disorder. Antidepressant medication will significantly help in alleviating signs and symptoms of somatoform disorders. Moreover, antidepressants will increase the patient activity level and reduce depression and anxiety. Theoretical Orientation The symptoms of somatoform disorder can be explained through the understanding of several theories and models.

Different health care practitioners use different theory to explain the cause and impact of somatoform disorder. According to defence against psychological distress theory, somatoform disorder is a means of dealing with psychological distress. Instead of developing depression, Mr Y developed physical complications. By referring to defence against psychological distress theory, somatoform symptoms emerges as a mean of defending patient against psychological pains. Heightened sensitivity to physical sensation theory suggests that, somatoform disorder is as a result of heightened sensitivity to internal sensation (Menza, Marc, Lesley, Melissa, Frank, Robert, and Javier, 2007).

Patients who are experiencing somatoform disorders are in most cases aware of minor discomfort and pain but they tend to ignore them. Moreover, the theory has as well stated that, patients who experience panic disorder are very sensitive to internal sensation such as heartbeat and breathing rate complications. Internal sensation among patients with panic disorder forces them to react fearfully to internal changes. Some healthcare practitioners also belief that, somatoform disorder is better explained by catastrophic thinking model.

According to the model, somatoform disorder is brought about by exaggerated fears and negative beliefs about the impact of physical sensations. The models also states that, patients who suffers from somatoform disorder believes that, any physical symptoms is an indicator of a complicated disorder. Moreover, patients who have symptoms of somatoform disorder are as well prone to getting treatment from several healthcare practitioners (Rief, Aike and Elmar, 2010). References Allen, L., Robert L.

, Woolfolk, P. Lehrer, M. Gara, J. (2001). Cognitive behaviour therapy for somatisation disorder: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 32, 20: 53-62. Menza, M., Marc L., Lesley A., Melissa W., Frank O., Robert M., and Javier E. (2007). Treatment of somatisation disorder with nefazodone: A prospective, open-label study. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 13, no. 3 (Sep 2001): 153-158. Rief, W., Aike H., and Elmar B. (2010).Somatisation symptoms and hypochondriacally features in the general population.

Psychosomatic Medicine 63: 595-602.