A nurse is assessing clients with somatic symptom illnesses. Select all the statements that accurately describe illness anxiety disorder.

Choice A rationale:

The client experiences altered voluntary motor functions. This choice is not accurate in describing illness anxiety disorder. Altered voluntary motor functions are more characteristic of conversion disorder, not illness anxiety disorder.

Choice B rationale:

The client has excessive or maladaptive responses to symptoms. This choice accurately describes illness anxiety disorder. Individuals with this disorder exhibit excessive worry and preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious illness, often responding to mild or non-specific symptoms with disproportionate anxiety and distress.

Choice C rationale:

The client is preoccupied with having a serious illness. This choice is correct in describing illness anxiety disorder. Preoccupation with having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence, is a hallmark of this disorder. This preoccupation can lead to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.

Choice D rationale:

The client intentionally produces physical symptoms. This choice is not accurate for illness anxiety disorder. Intentional symptom production is more characteristic of factitious disorder, where individuals purposefully produce or feign symptoms for various reasons.

Choice E rationale:

The client's symptoms are not intentionally produced and cause distress. This choice accurately characterizes illness anxiety disorder. The symptoms experienced by individuals with this disorder are not intentionally produced but are associated with distress due to the individual's persistent fear and belief in having a serious illness.

Choice A rationale:

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used to treat depression and other mood disorders. It works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which helps improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

Choice B rationale:

Venlafaxine is not an SSRI; it is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). While it also affects serotonin levels, it additionally targets norepinephrine, making it different from the classic SSRIs.

Choice C rationale:

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), not an SSRI. TCAs work by affecting the levels of multiple neurotransmitters, including serotonin and norepinephrine. They are generally considered second-line treatments due to their side effect profile and the availability of newer options like SSRIs and SNRIs.

Choice D rationale:

Escitalopram is an SSRI used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. It specifically targets serotonin reuptake, leading to increased serotonin levels in the brain and improved mood.

Choice E rationale:

Duloxetine is an SNRI that is used to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and certain pain conditions. Like other SNRIs, it acts on both serotonin and norepinephrine systems to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.