Anxiety, Somatoform, and Dissociative Disorders Outline and Case Analysis

ANXIETY DISORDERS: As for the DSM-IV-TR, the featured symptoms of these disorders are fear and anxiety in abnormal contexts, which do not justify those feelings (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). As for these disorders, one feels anxious or terrified, whereas with the occurrence of a minor threat or when a threat does not occur. The intensity of anxiety is another means to define these disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Biological components are a means to address functioning of the limbic system, autoimmune processes, autonomic nervous system, neural transmission, and the inherited factors, which predispose one to anxiety. Genetic vulnerabilities seem to have a part in the majority most anxiety disorders. The emotional components include underlying and unaddressed experiences or concerns. Cognitive components address the results of negatively distorted or abnormal thinking and emotions as for each situation. Behavioral components address the involuntary and voluntary actions based on one's anxiety.

Disorders	Definition
Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia	·         Is episodes of terror, which are acute, and these episodes occur without any real danger ·         Features are panic attacks with overwhelming anxiety ·         Panic attacks are recurrent and unexpected with ongoing impairment or distress ·         This disorder is without a phobia (agoraphobia)
Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia	·         Is a disorder with episodes of terror, which are acute and these episodes occur without any real danger ·         With agoraphobia means having a type of phobia ·         Features are panic attacks with overwhelming anxiety and urges to seek help or escape
Agoraphobia without History of Panic Disorder	·         Agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder results in a fear of developing symptoms, which are panic like
Specific Phobia	·         Is a phobias, which is not an agoraphobia or social phobia ·         Common types are natural environment, animal, and situational types
Social Phobia	·         Is a phobia, whereas the focus are fears of social situations, or other activities with a chance of observation or judgment ·         Occurs somewhat less often in men and more women
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder	·         Is an anxiety disorder, whereas compulsive rituals are the result of anxiety-producing unwanted and distressing thoughts; which significantly disrupt daily functioning
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder	·         PTSD is a disorder, whereas remarkable posttraumatic anxiety symptoms occur from a traumatic experience more than a month after such an experience ·         PTSD results from an experience of a traumatic event, which involved the possibility of serious injury or death; one’s response to such an experience involves intense horror, helplessness, or fear ·         Flashbacks are a common symptom of PTSD ·         Various of anxiety symptoms occur after a traumatic experience
Acute Stress Disorder	·         Is a disorder, whereas remarkable posttraumatic anxiety symptoms occur from a traumatic experience within a month ·         Various of anxiety symptoms occur after a traumatic experience
Generalized Anxiety Disorder	·         Is a disorder, which involves symptoms of pervasive and chronic nervousness ·         Symptoms are, whereas one feels worried and tense the majority of time, which results in distress and disrupts functioning

SOMATOFORM DISORDERS: As for the DSM-IV-TR, these are disorders, whereas psychological factors cause physical symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Disorders	Definition
Somatization Disorder	·         Is a disorder with recurrent sexual, pseudoneurological, or gastrointestinal symptoms with no physiological cause (Hansell & Damour, 2008)
Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder	·         Is a disorder that occurs when one has physical complaints for over six months, which are not an attribute of a medical condition (Hansell & Damour, 2008)
Conversion Disorder	·         Is a disorder with characteristics of defined symptoms or deficits in voluntary sensory or motor functions without physiological cause
Pain Disorder	·         Is a disorder that involves experiences of physical pain with no physiological explanation (Hansell & Damour, 2008)
Hypochondriasis	·         Is a preoccupation and fear of the contraction of a serious disease, or the mistaken idea of having such a disease (Hansell & Damour, 2008)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder	·         Is a disorder with a preoccupation of an exaggerated or imagined defect of physical appearance

FACITIOUS DISORDERS: As for the DSM-IV-TR, it categorizes two types of factitious disorders, and these disorders are without reward or benefit, and involve a falsifying psychological or physical signs or symptoms, or a combination of both. 

Disorders	Definition
Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self	·         Is a disorder without reward or benefit and involves a falsifying psychological or physical signs or symptoms, or a combination of both on oneself
Factious Disorder Imposed on Another	·         Is a disorder without reward or benefit and involves a falsifying psychological or physical signs or symptoms, or a combination of both on another

DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS: As for the DSM-IV-TR, dissociation is the feature symptom of these disorders. These types of disorders are those with dissociative symptoms that do not occur in appropriate contexts. As for the continuum of dissociative experiences, these disorders are severe enough to disrupt functioning (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

Disorders	Definition
Dissociative Amnesia	·         Is a disorder without an ability to remember personal information that is important, usually resulting from a stressful or traumatic nature
Dissociative Fugue	·         Is an unexpected and sudden travel from one’s home, and one forgets his or her past and personal identity (Hansell & Damour, 2008)
Dissociative Identity Disorder	·         Is a disorder with the presence of two or more identity states or personalities, which are distinct and recurrently control one’s behavior

          As for the biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of somatoform, and dissociative disorders, they overlap, interact, and complement one another. The biological components address the genetic link and development of these disorders because family members tend to have the same disorders. As for emotional components, individuals with these disorders report multifaceted and severe traumatization. Sexual and physical trauma often predicts these disorders. As for cognitive components, psychological factors may have a role in the severity and perception of pain. As for behavioral components, there is apparently an association between emotional well-being, physical pain, and behavior. Physical pain and physical symptoms affect one’s behavior.

Case Analysis

          In 1920, American psychologist John B. Watson wanted to conduct an anxiety-inducing experiment in opposition of Sigmund Freud’s case study involving Little Hans. Therefore, Watson performed his experiment on Little Albert; a nine month old child. Because of Albert’s age, he had not yet to develop fear responses to several objects often feared by children older than him. Watson subjected Albert to classical conditioning procedures. At first, Watson would expose Albert to various stimuli to determine what his reaction would be. At 11, months old, Watson exposed Albert to distressing noises anytime he was playing with a white lab rat. Once Watson paired the distressing noise with the lab rat a number of unreported times, Albert would become upset at the presence of the lab rat, even without the presence of the distressing noise. Little Albert not only exhibited anxiety at the presence of the white lab rat but also at the presence of a sealskin coat. Watson made the assumption that Little Albert’s fear extended to animals and other objects, which were furry (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Little Albert developed a fear or phobia and his mother removed him for the experiment before the removal of his phobia. Watson declared that his experiment was successful because he was able to produce a phobia in Little Albert through a means of conditioning. Little Albert suffered from specific phobia.

Components of Specific Phobia

          As for the DSM-IV-TR, a specific phobia is a phobia which is not an agoraphobia or social phobia. Common types of phobias are of the natural environment, animal, and situational types. When an exposure to a phobic stimulus occurs the result is a panic attack. However, with a specific phobia, a panic attack is bound situationally to a specific phobic stimulus.

Biological

            Biological components of specific phobia address functioning of the limbic and autonomic nervous system, autoimmune processes, neural transmission, and factors, inherited factors, which predispose one to specific phobia. Specific phobia has a tendency of a family link. Studies report that two thirds to three fourths of individuals have specific phobia have one first-degree relative with this same specific phobia; however, there are no adoption or twin studies that rule out a substantive contributor of nongenetic transmission of this phobia (Sadock & Sadock, 2008). Genetics can have a role or a part in the biology, such as with the limbic and autonomic nervous system. Research does show that anxiety development and genetics have a correlation. Genetics affects anxiety disorders in different ways, and gender may also have an effect in the development of specific disorders.  

Emotional

            The emotional components of specific phobia, includes experiences or underlying concerns, which have yet to be openly addressed. Underlying conditions may be a prelude to specific phobia. 

Cognitive

            Cognitive distortions and a negative view of specific natural environments, animals, and situations are the pessimism of specific phobia. Anxiety is often results from thought processes, which are dysfunctional and maladaptive cognitive schemas. One often interprets a situation inappropriately and focuses on inappropriate perceived dangers, which are normal. One also may underestimate his or her emotional ability to manage certain challenges, which he or she faces.

Behavioral

            Behavioral components of anxiety disorders, such as specific phobia include involuntary and voluntary actions based on one's anxiety. When certain situations provoke anxiety one will typically avoid such future similar situations that perpetuate anxiety or act out. Anxious thoughts, which are unrelenting, can result in symptoms and patterns of behavior that are inappropriate fears in an average situation.

Conclusion

          Watson tested his theory of classical conditioned by using Little Albert, whom he subjected to emotional distress, which resulted in anxiety and phobia as a nod to the case study of Little Hans, which Freud performed. Themes central to specific phobia are genetic predispositions, unaddressed, underlying, and emotional experiences. Yet, specific phobia has other components along with biological, emotional, such as cognitive and behavioral components. Specific phobia is a condition with common types of phobias, such as natural environment, animal, and situational types without agoraphobia. Themes central to specific phobia are genetic predispositions, unaddressed, and underlying and emotional experiences. Yet, specific phobia has other components along with biological, emotional, such as cognitive and behavioral components. These components also interact with one another. 

Reference

Hansell, J., & Damour, L. (2008). Abnormal psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Meyer, R., Chapman, L. K., & Weaver, C. M. (2009). Case studies in abnormal behavior. (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

Sadock, B.J., & Sadock, V.A. (2008). Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.