A client experiences physical symptoms that are distressing and interfere with daily life. The client exhibits excessive responses to these symptoms and their health concerns. Which term describes this condition?

Choice A rationale:

Medication-based therapy - While medications can be a part of the treatment plan for somatic symptom illnesses to manage specific symptoms like anxiety or depression, they primarily address physiological symptoms and may not directly target underlying emotional factors. They are often used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Choice B rationale:

Surgical intervention - Surgical procedures are typically not the primary approach for managing somatic symptom illnesses. These illnesses are characterized by physical symptoms that are influenced by emotional factors, and surgical intervention does not address the underlying emotional aspects.

Choice C rationale:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy - This is a commonly used therapeutic approach for somatic symptom illnesses. It focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying emotional factors that contribute to the physical symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps individuals recognize and change dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviors that exacerbate their symptoms. By promoting healthier coping mechanisms and emotional processing, it can effectively manage both the psychological and physiological aspects of somatic symptom illnesses.

Choice D rationale:

Physical therapy - Physical therapy primarily deals with musculoskeletal and movement-related issues. While it can be beneficial for individuals with certain physical symptoms, it doesn't primarily target the emotional factors that underlie somatic symptom illnesses.

Choice A rationale:

Altered motor functions and sensory symptoms are more indicative of conversion disorder rather than illness anxiety disorder. Conversion disorder involves neurological symptoms that cannot be medically explained, which contrasts with the preoccupation with serious illness seen in illness anxiety disorder.

Choice B rationale:

Intentionally producing physical symptoms for attention aligns with factitious disorder, where individuals feign or induce symptoms to assume the sick role. This behavior does not align with the diagnostic criteria for illness anxiety disorder.

Choice C rationale:

This choice correctly identifies the key characteristic of illness anxiety disorder, which involves excessive worry about having a serious illness despite minimal or no symptoms. This preoccupation causes distress and often leads the individual to seek medical reassurance repeatedly.

Choice D rationale:

Experiencing chronic physical symptoms with excessive responses might be seen in somatic symptom disorder, where the distress and impairment caused by the symptoms are disproportionate. However, this choice does not specifically address the preoccupation with serious illness that defines illness anxiety disorder.