What is the main neurotransmitter abnormality in Tourette's?

A. Psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment for somatic symptom disorder (SSD). It helps patients recognize and modify maladaptive thoughts about their physical symptoms, reducing distress and improving coping mechanisms.

B. Antipsychotics. Antipsychotic medications are not typically recommended for SSD unless there is a comorbid psychotic disorder or severe delusional thinking. SSD is primarily driven by excessive health-related anxiety and preoccupation with physical symptoms, not psychosis.

C. Anti-anxiety medications. Short-term use of anxiolytics (e.g., benzodiazepines) may help with acute anxiety symptoms, but they are not the preferred treatment due to the risk of dependence. SSRIs and psychotherapy are more effective long-term for managing anxiety in SSD.

D. Antidepressants. SSRIs and SNRIs are commonly used to treat SSD, especially when there is underlying depression or anxiety. These medications help reduce excessive preoccupation with physical symptoms and improve overall emotional well-being.

A. Overreaction of a medical symptom. While individuals with illness anxiety disorder (IAD) may misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of serious illness, the key feature is excessive health-related worry in the absence of significant symptoms, rather than just overreacting to existing symptoms.

B. Faked symptoms. Feigning symptoms is characteristic of factitious disorder (formerly Munchausen syndrome) or malingering, where individuals intentionally produce or exaggerate symptoms for attention or external gain. In IAD, the concern is genuine but unfounded, rather than intentionally fabricated.

C. Abnormal voluntary motor or sensory dysfunction. This describes conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), where individuals experience neurological symptoms (e.g., paralysis, blindness, or seizures) without a medical explanation, typically triggered by psychological stress.

D. Worry about health despite no symptoms. Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is marked by persistent, excessive fear of having a serious illness, despite minimal or no symptoms and repeated medical reassurance. Patients often engage in excessive health-related behaviors (e.g., frequent doctor visits, checking their body) or avoid medical care altogether due to fear of diagnosis.