What is the primary difference between somatic system disorders and dissociative disorders?
A.
They are under voluntary control
B.
They are psychological stress expressed through somatic symptoms.
C.
They are related to resolved stress.
D.
They are generally strongly culturally bound.
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. They are psychological stress expressed through somatic symptoms.
Explanation:
Somatic symptom disorders and dissociative disorders are both types of mental health conditions, but they differ significantly in their manifestations and underlying mechanisms.
Somatic Symptom Disorders: These disorders are characterized by the presence of physical symptoms that are distressing or result in significant disruption of daily life, and these symptoms are not fully explained by a medical condition. The key feature of somatic symptom disorders is that the psychological stress is expressed through physical symptoms. For example, individuals may experience chronic pain, fatigue, or other bodily symptoms that cannot be fully attributed to an underlying medical condition. These symptoms are real to the individual and cause significant distress, even though no specific medical cause can be identified. The disorders in this category include somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, and conversion disorder.
Dissociative Disorders: Dissociative disorders involve a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. These disorders are not primarily characterized by physical symptoms but rather by disruptions in consciousness and identity. Key features include amnesia, depersonalization (a feeling of detachment from oneself), and dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder), where an individual exhibits two or more distinct identities. The dissociative symptoms are seen as a psychological defense mechanism to cope with trauma or stress.
Comparison: The primary difference between the two types of disorders lies in how psychological stress manifests. In somatic symptom disorders, psychological distress is expressed through physical symptoms and the focus is on bodily complaints. In dissociative disorders, the stress is expressed through disturbances in identity, memory, and consciousness, not through physical symptoms. Both types of disorders can result from psychological stress, but they represent different ways in which individuals may cope with or manifest their internal distress.
Thus, while both types of disorders are related to psychological stress, somatic symptom disorders are specifically characterized by physical symptoms, whereas dissociative disorders involve disruptions in consciousness and identity.