A nurse is explaining the potential outcomes of somatic symptom illnesses to a client. Which of the following statements accurately describes a possible outcome for a client with somatic symptom illness?

Choice A rationale:

Complete recovery is a possible outcome for some individuals with somatic symptom illnesses, where they no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for the illness. With appropriate treatment and interventions, individuals can experience improvements in their symptoms and overall functioning.

Choice B rationale:

While symptoms can vary, stating that symptoms will worsen over time, leading to severe impairment in functioning (Choice B) is not accurate for the majority of cases of somatic symptom illnesses. Most individuals can experience improvement with proper management and treatment.

Choice C rationale:

Complete disappearance of symptoms after a single round of medication (Choice C) is unlikely for most somatic symptom illnesses. These conditions often have complex underlying factors that require a multidimensional approach for effective management.

Choice D rationale:

While mood improvement is possible with treatment, stating that the physical symptoms will remain unchanged (Choice D) is overly pessimistic. Treatment approaches aim to address both physical and psychological aspects of somatic symptom illnesses.

Choice A rationale:

Encouraging the client to focus solely on physical symptoms neglects the emotional aspect of somatic symptom illness. A comprehensive approach involves addressing both the physical symptoms and the underlying emotions.

Choice B rationale:

Advising the client to ignore their emotional experiences dismisses an essential component of their condition. Ignoring emotions can lead to emotional distress and exacerbate the somatic symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

Suggesting that the client suppress their emotions would not be beneficial. Emotional suppression can contribute to increased psychological distress and hinder the client's progress toward better emotional well-being.

Choice D rationale:

Assisting the client to identify and use healthy coping strategies is a sound intervention. Coping strategies can help the client manage both physical symptoms and emotional distress in adaptive ways, improving their overall quality of life.