Karan frequently visits doctors and presents detailed case history of his symptoms. Upon examination the doctors do not find any medical condition that Karan is suffering from. Karan is suspicious of the doctor's competence and feels that his symptoms are not being taken seriously. Identify the disorder Karan is suffering from:-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Somatic Symptom disorder
Somatic symptom and related disorders are conditions with physical symptoms in the absence of a physical disease: the person has psychological difficulties and complains of physical symptoms for which there is no biological cause.
Option (1) Somatic Symptom disorder — Correct. It involves persistent body-related symptoms which may or may not be related to any serious medical condition. People with it are overly preoccupied with their symptoms, continually worry about their health and make frequent visits to doctors. Karan visits doctors often, describes his symptoms in detail, and no medical condition is found.
Option (2) Dissociative Disorder — Incorrect. Dissociation involves feelings of unreality, estrangement, depersonalisation, and sometimes a loss or shift of identity. Karan complains of body symptoms, not of a split in awareness or identity.
Option (3) Conversion disorder — Incorrect. In conversion disorder there is a reported loss of part or all of some basic body function, such as paralysis, blindness or deafness, usually after a stressful experience. Karan has lost no body function.
Option (4) Anxiety disorder — Incorrect. Anxiety disorders are marked by fear and worry, as in generalised anxiety disorder or panic attacks. Karan’s problem centres on body symptoms and doctors’ visits.
NCERT (2025-26): “Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders … These are conditions in which there are physical symptoms in the absence of a physical disease. In these disorders, the individual has psychological difficulties and complains of physical symptoms, for which there is no biological cause. These include conversion disorders, somatic symptom disorder, and illness anxiety disorder among others. Somatic symptom disorder involves a person having persistent body-related symptoms which may or may not be related to any serious medical condition. People with this disorder tend to be overly preoccupied with their symptoms and they continually worry about their health and make frequent visits to doctors. As a result, they experience significant distress and disturbances in their daily life.…” “…The symptoms of conversion disorders are the reported loss of part or all of some basic body functions. Paralysis, blindness, deafness and difficulty in walking are generally among the symptoms reported.…” “Dissociative Disorders … Dissociation involves feelings of unreality, estrangement, depersonalisation, and sometimes a loss or shift of identity.…” |