Week 4 Academic Discussion

Week 4 Academic Discussion

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Due Feb 8

20 points

Discussion Topic: Week 4 Academic DiscussionWeek 4 Academic Discussion

Greeting,

Chapters 8 and 9 of Comer and Comer (2022) highlight how somatic symptomrelated disorders and eating disorders reflect the complex ways psychological distress becomes intertwined with the body. Somatic symptom and illness anxiety disorders often arise when emotional conflict is expressed through physical symptoms, reinforced by catastrophic health beliefs and high medical reassurance-seeking. Treatment focuses on modifying these cognitive patterns and improving coping with stress.

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, similarly involve distorted beliefs; particularly regarding weight, control, and self-worth; shaped by biological vulnerabilities and sociocultural pressures. Comer and Comer emphasize how family dynamics, perfectionism, and cultural ideals surrounding thinness sustain these disorders, highlighting the need for integrated approaches such as CBT-E and family-based treatment.

Across both chapters, the key theme is the embodiment of emotional distress. These disorders demonstrate how psychological needs can manifest physically or behaviorally, making culturally informed, family-aware, and multidimensional treatment essential.

Question for Discussion:

How can clinicians better address the cultural and family factors that maintain both somatic and eating disorder symptoms?