DSM IV Disorders DSM IV-TR - Anxiety,

DSM IV Disorders

DSM IV-TR - Anxiety, Somatoform, and Dissociative Disorders

American Psychological Association has compiled and published DSM IV-TR, which is a diagnostic manual of mental disorders. This manual not only categorizes mental enormities but also provide guidance and assistance to medical practitioners about the suitable and appropriate diagnosis and treatment of the included mental illnesses. Moreover, specific codes have been assigned to each disorder in DSM IV-TR with a purpose of providing an effective method for medical documentation. Additionally, this manual serves as a valuable resource for teaching the technicalities of psychopathology. DSM IV-TR extensively discusses wide range of mental disorders such as anxiety, somatoform, and dissociative disorders.

The person who experiences frequent fear and panic about different things is believed to be suffering from anxiety. Acute state of anxiety is conducive to various other mental disorders such as obsessive-compulsion disorder, panic disorder, phobia, and so forth. Furthermore, somatoform is a mental enormity that is concerned with mental distress and mutilation in which mind faultily directs the body. This disorder further classifies into branches including pain disorder, conversion disorder, and others. Additionally, dissociative disorders include, "A class of psychological disorders characterized by loss of contact with portion of one's consciousness or memory, resulting in disruption in one's sense of identity" (Weiten, Dunn & Hammer, 2010, p. G-3). Victims of dissociative disorders experience acute conditions that impair their brain function.

Somatoform disorder is associated with several symptoms that are shown on/in the body of the sufferer such as pain. However, there exists no particular physical reason for these indications. Unlike other mental illnesses, somatoform victims actually experience pain and do not falsify it. All these symptoms adversely affect their capability of performing daily life activities.

The case study of Pam reflects an example of somatoform. She suffered from periodic hip pain since her teenage when she confronted a road accident. Additionally, she often experienced severe headaches for last few years that again were not continuous. She consulted few specialists who referred her to pain clinic where a team of several health practitioners identified that her pain is associated with psychological factors.

Pam came from a family where children were not given equal parental affection so she remained a deprived child with regard to the extent of care and attention received from her parents. Moreover, her parents did not share a strong marital relation, as her father was mostly engrossed in work that adversely affected the whole family. Pam's family lack healthy social interactions with neighborhood and the impassiveness of her parents had begotten to children becoming inexpressive about their thoughts and feelings. Furthermore, Pam grew up in a much feminine style due to limitations imposed by her family.

Her mother suffered from many gynecological problems and frequently visited doctors. Pam was influenced by the observation that whenever her mother fell ill, she gained the attention of otherwise indifferent family members. Pam dated boys during her teenage with an intention of broadening her social circle; however, her ethical hesitation and the hip pain often impeded her dating and intimacy with her boyfriends.

Pam was married to a man of his choice but their relationship lack strong emotional ties. Her husband remained busy with his work and Pam had to look after household and children. Pam is concerned with the fact that her family has to move to a new area every now and then due to her husband's work. She faces difficulties in socializing and making friends; therefore, she is reluctant in following the pattern of continuously moving, as she is contented with her current lifestyle.

Pam's case can be discussed through various components. The biological components that are associated with Pam's hip pain complaints may be linked to her family history, as her mother suffers from several gynecological problems that could have contributed to the development of her condition. Psychological factors may also have contributed to this since the evidence demonstrates that Pam's pain could be psychogenic, which developed due to veiled anxieties she was experiencing.

Another component is linked to the emotional aspect of Pam's case. This is the most significant aspect because Pam has undergone several emotional distresses during her life. She was not loved by her parents and felt deprived when she observed her eldest and younger siblings being loved much more than her. Moreover, her father paid least attention to the family that had disturbed the normal family pattern. Coupled to this, her parents disliked their children revealing intense sentiments; therefore, Pam had learned to keep her feelings and sensations confined to her. Additionally, Pam's family was conservative and strict, as they wanted to keep a check on her activities and wished to keep her under their stern control. After her marriage, she did not have a strong emotional relation with her husband and spent less time with him that disturbed her. These factors might have begotten to the pain or symptoms she has developed that have contributed to the onset of somatoform disorder.