Elimination Disorders involve difficulties in the regular release of urine (enuresis) and feces (encopresis). These difficulties are not physiological but are linked to psychological causes. The individual delays elimination due to concerns such as the use of a bathroom other than their own, social anxiety, or performance anxiety.
If Anorexia Nervosa is primarily characterized by food avoidance, the last two feeding and eating disorders I’ll discuss are defined by episodes of binge eating. I’m referring to Bulimia Nervosa and Binge-Eating Disorder.
Among feeding and eating disorders, Anorexia Nervosa is the most well-known. Perhaps its fame comes from cinematic portrayals (such as in the film To the Bone), but most of us have some idea—whether accurate or not—of what anorexia is and how dangerous it can be. Here, I’ll try to explain it in my own words.
In the previous post, we saw how eating behavior involves more than just the act of eating; it’s a more complex process that also includes food choices and how food is consumed.
Eating is a basic need—nothing new or complicated there. Modern society often discusses food: how to explore new cuisines, eat healthily, or prepare meals. However, in some cases, maintaining a regular and somewhat healthy diet can become so difficult that it qualifies as a mental disorder. But why does this happen?
Among the disorders related to somatic symptoms, there is one that stands out: Factitious Disorder. Fans of medical or crime dramas might recognize this disorder under the name Münchausen Syndrome.
In the previous post, we explored how physical (somatic) symptoms can lead some individuals to experience psychological and/or behavioral distress. In this post, I’ll describe Somatic Symptom Disorder as well as two related disorders, using my own words.
After discussing Dissociative Disorders, the diagnostic manual takes a new direction. It moves to a category of disorders known as somatic disorders.
The word "somatic" is related to the Greek word soma, which means "body." Somatic symptoms are physical symptoms. But why should clinical psychology be concerned with physical symptoms? Let me explain in my own words.
In previous posts, we saw that dissociation is often a consequence of a traumatic event. Traumas can lead to two other types of dissociative disorders:
Have you ever heard of multiple personalities? Those who enjoy thrillers (like the movie Split) may have come across this term. The technical name for this condition is Dissociative Identity Disorder.
