A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of somatic symptoms disorder. The nurse should identify that the client must have been experiencing manifestations of the disorder for how long before diagnosis?

A. Social cognition refers to the ability to understand and interpret social cues, including emotions, intentions, and interpersonal interactions. Asking the client to identify emotions on faces depicted on cards assesses their ability to recognize and interpret facial expressions, which is a fundamental aspect of social cognition.

B. Repeating a list of words primarily assesses verbal memory and recall, which may be impaired in dementia but does not specifically target social cognition.

C. Interpreting a sequence of pictures may assess aspects of visual processing, memory, and problem-solving abilities but does not specifically target social cognition.

D. Imitating gestures of learned movements may assess motor skills and imitation abilities but does not specifically target social cognition.

A. A serum lithium level of 1.6 mEq/L is above the therapeutic range, indicating lithium toxicity. Manifestations of lithium toxicity can include neurological symptoms such as blurred vision and jerking motor movements. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, confusion, drowsiness, and muscle weakness.

B. Fever and fluctuating blood pressure are not typical manifestations of lithium toxicity.

C GI discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, is a common symptom of lithium toxicity. Poor coordination, along with tremors and muscle weakness, can also occur due to the effects of lithium on the central nervous system.

D. Lip smacking and tongue thrusting are repetitive and involuntary movements associated with certain types of seizures or seizure disorders, but they are not typically observed in lithium toxicity.