A nurse is working with a client who is displaying disproportionate fear of having cancer. The nurse notes the client is seeking out medical care more frequently, has high anxiety, and believes they have cancer, despite no medical evidence to support this. Which of the following disorders is the client likely experiencing?

A. Hallucinations. Hallucinations, particularly auditory hallucinations, are one of the core symptoms of schizophrenia. They involve perceiving things that are not present, such as hearing voices.
B. Inability to initiate activities. While this may be a feature of schizophrenia, it is not one of the primary diagnostic criteria. This symptom may be related to negative symptoms but is not specifically required for diagnosis.
C. Antisocial personality. Antisocial personality disorder is a separate diagnosis and not a symptom of schizophrenia. The presence of antisocial personality traits does not fulfill the criteria for schizophrenia.
D. Lack of emotional expression. This symptom, often referred to as flat affect, is considered a negative symptom of schizophrenia and can contribute to the diagnosis, as it indicates diminished emotional responsiveness.
E. Disorganized behavior. Disorganized behavior, including disorganized speech and erratic actions, is a key symptom of schizophrenia and is part of the diagnostic criteria.
F. Impaired interpersonal relationships. While impaired relationships may result from the symptoms of schizophrenia, this is not a specific criterion for diagnosis. The focus is on the presence of specific symptoms such as hallucinations, disorganized behavior, and negative symptoms like lack of emotional expression.

A. Somatic symptom disorder. This disorder involves experiencing physical symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment, typically related to an underlying medical condition. The client’s actions do not reflect a focus on physical symptoms for relief of anxiety or distress in the same way.
B. Illness anxiety disorder. This disorder is characterized by excessive worry about having a serious illness despite minimal or no symptoms. The client’s behavior of intentionally cutting themselves does not align with this disorder, as there is no indication of anxiety over illness.
C. Factitious disorder. This disorder involves intentionally producing or feigning symptoms for the purpose of assuming the sick role, without external incentives. The client’s admission of boredom as the reason for self-harm indicates an intent to create a situation for attention or care, aligning with factitious disorder.
D. Functional neurological symptom disorder. This condition involves neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by medical findings, often presenting as involuntary symptoms. The client’s self-inflicted injuries are not indicative of this disorder, as they intentionally engaged in self-harm.