A nurse is planning care for a client with a somatic symptom illness. The client keeps a detailed journal of physical symptoms and associated emotions. Which statement is accurate regarding the nurse's intervention?
Encouraging the client to focus solely on physical symptoms.
Advising the client to ignore their emotional experiences.
Suggesting that the client suppress their emotions.
Assisting the client to identify and use healthy coping strategies.
The Correct Answer is D
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.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
"Conversion disorder.". Choice A is not the correct answer. Conversion disorder involves the development of physical symptoms, such as motor or sensory deficits, that suggest a neurological or medical condition but are actually caused by psychological factors. It does not involve intentional production or falsification of symptoms for attention.
Choice B rationale:
"Illness anxiety disorder.". Choice B is not the correct answer. Illness anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry and fear of having a serious illness, even in the absence of medical evidence. It does not involve intentional fabrication of symptoms for attention.
Choice C rationale:
"Factitious disorder.". Choice C is the correct answer. Factitious disorder is characterized by intentionally producing or falsifying physical or psychological symptoms to assume the role of a sick person. The primary motivation is to receive attention, care, and sympathy from medical professionals or others. This behavior is driven by psychological factors rather than genuine medical need.
Choice D rationale:
"Somatic symptom disorder.". Choice D is not the correct answer. Somatic symptom disorder involves experiencing distressing physical symptoms that interfere with daily life. While the symptoms are real and genuinely felt, the central issue in somatic symptom disorder is the excessive response to these symptoms and the preoccupation with health concerns. It is not primarily about intentionally falsifying symptoms for attention.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
"Factitious disorder.". Choice A is not the correct answer for this question. Factitious disorder involves intentionally producing or feigning physical or psychological symptoms in oneself to assume the sick role, but it's not primarily characterized by excessive responses to the symptoms. It is more about assuming the role of a patient for psychological reasons.
Choice B rationale:
"Somatic symptom disorder.". Choice B is the correct answer. Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by distressing physical symptoms that interfere with daily life. The individual's response to these symptoms is excessive, and they often become preoccupied with their health concerns. This condition differs from factitious disorder in that the symptoms are not intentionally produced for attention; they are genuinely experienced, but the distress and preoccupation become the central issue.
Choice C rationale:
"Conversion disorder.". Choice C is not the correct answer. Conversion disorder involves experiencing neurological-like symptoms, such as paralysis or blindness, that cannot be attributed to a medical condition. The symptoms often arise due to psychological stressors and are not intentionally produced or exaggerated for attention.
Choice D rationale:
"Illness anxiety disorder.". Choice D is not the correct answer. Illness anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondriasis, involves excessive worry about having a serious illness despite minimal or no medical evidence of such an illness. The focus is on the fear of having a disease, rather than the distressing physical symptoms described in the question.
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