A nurse is providing education to a client's family about somatic symptom illnesses. Which of the following statements accurately conveys the nature of 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.

Choice A rationale:

Symptoms that are fully explained by a medical condition - Somatic symptom illnesses are characterized by physical symptoms that are not fully explained by medical conditions. If symptoms are entirely accounted for by a medical diagnosis, the individual may not meet the criteria for a somatic symptom illness.

Choice B rationale:

Symptoms that remain constant in intensity and location - Somatic symptom illnesses often involve symptoms that are variable in intensity and may migrate to different body systems over time. This variability is influenced by emotional factors and distinguishes these illnesses from conditions with consistent, anatomically based symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

Symptoms that are proportional to the underlying cause - Somatic symptom illnesses can lead to symptoms that are disproportionate to the underlying medical cause. This disproportionate relationship between symptoms and physiological findings is a key characteristic of these illnesses.

Choice D rationale:

Symptoms that may migrate from one body system to another - This is a characteristic feature of somatic symptom illnesses. The migration of symptoms across different body systems is often seen and is related to the complex interplay between emotional and physiological factors.

Choice E rationale:

Symptoms that do not affect psychological well-being - Somatic symptom illnesses inherently involve a significant impact on psychological well-being. The distress and impairment caused by the physical symptoms are a core aspect of these illnesses, differentiating them from purely physical conditions.