In order words, these disorders can be inherited. The bipolar and cyclothmic disorders generally include both euphoric and depressive feelings, while the dysthymic and major depressive disorders only include depressive feelings. The bipolar and major depressive disorders have received most attention in terms of research. These disorders are generally treated by a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Being more severe than the other two mood disorders, they may also at times require hospitalization to ensure the safety of the patient.
The cyclothmic and dysthymic disorders are both less severe than the other two, but can also be disruptive if not appropriately treated. The prognosis for both of these are good in terms of functioning effectively in society. The more severe disorders may hamper functioning effectively in social and workplace situations, although the correct combination of psychotherapy and medication can enhance the quality of life that such persons experience.
Dissociative/Somatoform Disorders
A somatoform disorder consists of experiencing physical symptoms without any underlying medical reason for these symptoms to exist. Such symptoms may include significant pain or a constant manifestation of minor aches and pains. These disorders include body dysmorphic disorder, conversion disorder, hypochondriasis disorder, pain disorder, and somatization disorder.
Somatoform disorders generally involve an incorrect judgment of the individual's own physical...
The most common of these disorders are generally hypochondriasis disorder and somatization disorder. Generally, research has failed to produce any satisfactory cause for this kind of disorder, and the prognosis is usually somewhat poor. Somatoform disorders manifest themselves chronically.
While treatments could be successful if provided in the correct form and combination, many somatoform patients refuse to believe that the cause of their physical symptoms is in fact psychological. In the case of hypochondriasis, for example, the belief that something may be seriously wrong persists, regardless of assurances to the contrary by a doctor.
The condition is chronic, while the majority of patients refuse treatment, based upon the belief that the cause of their symptoms is not psychological. This makes both research and treatment difficult, and accounts for the basic lack of evidence regarding the causes of this condition. In the case of body dysmorphic and conversion disorders, some success have been achieved by treatments with anti-depressants and social adjustment therapies respectively.
Sources
AllPsych. (2003). Psychiatric disorders. http://allpsych.com/disorders/index.html
Hsiung, Robert. (2008, March 3). DSM-IV Diagnoses and Codes. http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/dsm4a.html
Psychnet.uk. (2009). Complete List of DSM-IV Codes. http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/_misc/complete_tables.htm
