✨
BLACK FRIDAY SALE ✨ SAVE UP TO 45% OFF NOW
Medicine (MD/DO)
/
Courses
/
Psychiatry
/
Other Psychiatric Pathology
/
Somatic Symptom Disorders

Master Somatic Symptom Disorders with Picmonic for Medicine

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF
Somatic Symptom Disorders

Somatic Symptom Disorders

Diseased-Villain With So Many Symptoms
Nicholazk
8 KEY FACTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Duration > 6 Months
Greater-than Sign with (6) Sax and Month Moon

Although specific somatic symptoms may change, and the nature of physical symptoms may be intermittent, symptoms must last longer than six months to be diagnosed.

History of Extensive Medical Workup
Doctor-construction worker's hat-up arrow

Patients with somatic symptom disorders frequently have a history of extensive medical workup due to multiple unexplained symptoms. This could include several imaging tests, blood tests, or even biopsies.

Unconscious Motivation
Unconscious-guard

Patients who have somatic symptom disorder or related disorders do not intentionally produce or feign their symptoms; in other words, the symptom production and motivation are unconscious. Contrast this with intentional symptom production in patients with factitious disorders and malingering.

RELATED DISORDERS
Conversion Disorder
Sun Converting Ice to Water

Conversion disorder is characterized by a neurological impairment involving voluntary motor or sensory function with no primary neurological cause; symptoms may include paralysis, blindness, mutism, or seizures. This condition is more common in adolescents and young adults.

Indifference
Indifferent to Compliments

History taking often reveals an acute stressor preceding the onset of symptoms. The patient is often aware of but is indifferent toward symptoms; this is known as "la belle indifference". It is important to note that while this fact is often emphasized heavily in board preparation material, this characteristic is not part of the diagnostic criteria, and some patients may be very concerned about their symptoms.
To meet the diagnosis, the patient should have some type of neurologic deficit following a stressful event without a neurologic lesion that could explain the symptoms.

Illness Anxiety Disorder
Illness-causing-bug and Anxiety-bag

Illness anxiety disorder is characterized by a fear of having a serious illness despite mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. It is also characterized by maladaptive behaviors associated with the concern about the health and excessive checkups despite medical evaluation and reassurance.

No Somatic Symptoms
Asymptomatic-guy

Illness anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry about health and illness despite having minimal to no somatic symptoms.

TREATMENT
Relationship With PCP
#1 Foam-finger-Primary Care Physician

These patients typically have a history of extensive medical workups despite negative results. Treatment consists of establishing a longitudinal relationship with a single primary care physician and having regular follow-up visits. This prevents unnecessary workups and diagnostic procedures which carry their own risks.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Recommended Picmonics

picmonic thumbnail
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
picmonic thumbnail
Malignant Hyperthermia vs. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome vs. Serotonin Syndrome
picmonic thumbnail
Delirium
picmonic thumbnail
Serotonin Syndrome Assessment
picmonic thumbnail
Dissociation

Take the Somatic Symptom Disorders Quiz

Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.

It's worth every penny

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:

Over 1,980,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.

Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.

Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.

Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.

Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.