Things to Do Before Diagnosing a Somatoform Illness
Somatoform disorders represent a class of psychiatric diseases whereby an individual has no identifiable biological foundation but manifest with physical issues. The illness consists of identical somatoform conditions, conversion disease, illness anxiety disorder, functional impairment, and body dysmorphic illness, among other symptoms not otherwise described (Liu et al., 2019). However, before doctors and nurse practitioners can diagnose a patient, they need to conduct a primary diagnostic evaluation to get information about the patient’s background, conduct a physical examination, and appraise the person’s primary complaints and signs. Additionally, they can perform various diagnoses, commission diagnostic examinations, and explain and present the findings. It is difficult for doctors to discern the disease from medical issues and not intentionally manifest their signs. A patient’s condition history may contain peculiarities that help doctors differentiate between conversion and legitimate health problems.
Importance of Diagnosing a Somatoform Illness
People sometimes pretend to suffer from somatoform to escape being jailed or running away from duty. Some parents usually invent or create medical ailments in their kids. However, individuals may deliberately claim to be sick in an attempt to be victims because, at their core, they crave compassion and attention. People might consume toxins, burn themselves, and use drugs that make them appear ill or trigger their insulin levels to go up (Liu et al., 2019). Additionally, some individuals become more anxious to undertake diagnostic care, extensive medical background, frequent hospitalizations, and absence of relatives and acquaintances.
How to Go About the Initial Intervention
Initially, the doctor has to assess the ill person’s medical background through the portal or health record to understand the key problem and information about the disease. The next stage is to conduct a comprehensive checkup by examining, palpating, striking, and auscultating the patient (Liu et al., 2019). The third step is to perform a diagnostic assessment by observing x-ray images, ultrasounds, and a computerized tomography scan. Finally, the doctor can collect and analyze the information to determine the cause of the illness which affects the patient.
Reference
Liu, J., Gill, N. S., Teodorczuk, A., Li, Z. J., & Sun, J. (2019). The efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy in somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 98-112.