Journal article
War-Related Somatoform Disorder in an Older Adult Veteran
Clinical case studies, Vol.11(5), pp.376-392
10/2012
DOI: 10.1177/1534650112461848
Abstract
This case study describes an older adult war veteran who served during World War II (WWII) and later developed disruptive behaviors related to psychosomatic symptoms, dementia, and his war-related fear of dying. While in the service, he developed lifelong gastrointestinal problems and was subsequently diagnosed with undifferentiated somatization disorder (USD). USD is a mental illness characterized by medically unexplained physical symptoms originating from psychological or emotional distress. The geropsychology team who worked with the veteran postulated the association of WWII experiences to his somatic symptoms; however, this veteran never received treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and only a couple of notes in his computerized medical record referenced his wartime experiences. A stepwise approach to care was necessitated to identify a successful, individualized treatment. Phase I of treatment was aimed to reduce attachment anxiety and related behavioral disturbances when the veteran moved into the nursing home. In Phase II, cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy were used to help the veteran cope with somatic symptoms. In Phase III, Montessori-based interventions were used to minimize distress associated with dementia-related cognitive impairment and associated war-related somatization and fear of dying. We contemplate the possibility that the veteran’s presentation is a variant of PTSD that has not been described in the literature. We hope that you find this case study to be not the story of someone enduring a life of chronic mental and physical illnesses, but instead our discoveries about the man who persevered with courage and dignity.
Keywords veteran, dementia, somatoform disorder, PTSD, older adult
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- War-Related Somatoform Disorder in an Older Adult Veteran
- Creators
- Lindsey Jacobs - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USABeth Dinoff - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Clinical case studies, Vol.11(5), pp.376-392
- DOI
- 10.1177/1534650112461848
- ISSN
- 1534-6501
- eISSN
- 1552-3802
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/2012
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Anesthesia
- Record Identifier
- 9984006414402771
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