An Instance of Somatoform Disorder ()
Abstract
A case study is presented of a prison inmate with Somatoform Disorder, a relatively rare type of mental illness. In this particular case symptomatology revolved around his claim that some of his teeth were rotten, resulting in great pain, in spite of several diagnoses by dentists. When said teeth were extracted, inmate would express satisfaction, whereupon several weeks later the same complaint would resurface and the cycle began anew. Of the various types of mental illnesses listed in the DSM, there are some that are infrequently seen [1,2] One of these is Somatoform Disorder, a category of mental illness for which there is a paucity of research, partly due to diagnostic difficulties and controversies [3,4] and we would like to present a case study of just such an instance.
Share and Cite:
A. Simon, "An Instance of Somatoform Disorder,"
Open Journal of Medical Psychology, Vol. 2 No. 1, 2013, pp. 21-22. doi:
10.4236/ojmp.2013.21004.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
[1]
|
American Psychiatric Association, “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC, 2005.
|
[2]
|
S. Walsh and W. Denton, “Clinical Issues in Treating Somatoform Disorder for Couple Therapists,” American Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 33, No. 3, 2005, pp. 225-236. doi:10.1080/01926180590932979
|
[3]
|
J. Dimsdale and F. Creed, “The Proposed Diagnosis of Somatic Symptom Disorders in DSM-V to Replace Somatoform Disorders in DSM-IV—A Preliminary Report,” Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Vol. 66, No. 6, 2009, pp. 473-476. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.03.005
|
[4]
|
D. Lynch, A. McGrady, R. Nagel and C. Zsembik, “Somatization in Family Practice: Comparing 5 Methods of Classification,” Primary Care Companion Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Vol. 1, No. 3, 1999, pp. 85-89.
|
[5]
|
D. Frayn, “Assessment Factors Associated with Premature Termination,” American Journal of Psychotherapy, Vol. 46, No. 2, 1992, pp. 250-262.
|
[6]
|
J. Ogrodniczuk, “Strategies for Reducing Patient-Initiated Premature Termination in Psychotherapy,” Harvard Review of Psychiatry, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2005, pp. 54-70. doi:10.1080/10673220590956429
|
[7]
|
R. Westmacott and J. Hunsley, “Reasons for Terminating Psychotherapy,” Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol. 66, No. 9, 2010, pp. 965-977.
|