Which intervention is a nurse’s priority when working with a client suspected of having a conversion disorder?
Avoid situations in which secondary gains may occur.
Confront the client with the fact that anxiety is the cause of physical symptoms.
Teach the client alternative coping skills to use during times of stress.
Monitor assessments, lab reports, and vital signs to rule out organic pathology.
The Correct Answer is D
Conversion disorder presents with neurological symptoms such as paralysis, seizures, or sensory loss that lack a medical basis. Before confirming the diagnosis, it is essential to rule out organic pathology to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate care. This step protects patient safety and guides further psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
Rationale for correct answers
4. Ruling out organic causes ensures diagnostic accuracy and prevents mismanagement, making it the first priority in suspected conversion disorder.
Rationale for incorrect answers
1. Avoiding secondary gain is important but not the initial clinical priority during assessment.
2. Confrontation may provoke defensiveness and worsen symptoms; it is not therapeutic or diagnostic.
3. Teaching coping skills is valuable but follows confirmation of diagnosis and safety clearance.
Take Home Points
- Ruling out organic pathology is the first step in managing suspected conversion disorder.
- Accurate diagnosis prevents inappropriate treatment and supports safe psychiatric care.
- Confrontation is contraindicated; supportive and nonjudgmental approaches are preferred.
- Coping strategies are introduced after diagnostic clarity and patient engagement.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Learning theoryexplains somatization disorder as a behavior shaped by reinforcement, conditioning, and modeling. When physical symptoms receive attention, care, or relief from responsibilities, they are unintentionally reinforced. This positive reinforcementincreases the likelihood of symptom persistence. The behavior is not consciously produced but maintained through environmental responses that reward illness behavior.
Rationale for correct answers
2.Reinforcement of symptoms through attention or relief from duties supports the learning theoryview that behavior is shaped by external rewards.
Rationale for incorrect answers
1.Genetic predisposition reflects a biologicalmodel, not learning theory.
3.Viewing oneself as “bad” aligns with psychodynamictheory, involving unconscious guilt and atonement.
4.Repression of anxiety is a psychodynamicexplanation, not based on behavioral reinforcement.
Take Home Points
- Learning theory attributes somatization to reinforcement of illness behaviors.
- Attention and relief from responsibilities can unintentionally perpetuate symptoms.
- Differentiating behavioral from psychodynamic and biological models is essential for targeted intervention.
- Nursing care must reduce reinforcement and promote adaptive coping strategies.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Conversion disordercan be triggered by acute psychological stress, such as fear of combat. The priority nursing diagnosis addresses the underlying anxiety, which precipitates the physical symptoms. Addressing emotional distress is essential for symptom resolution.
Rationale for correct answer
3.The client’s anxietyabout deployment is the psychological stressor that led to the conversion symptoms. Addressing this root cause is essential for recovery.
Rationale for incorrect answers
1.Integrity is not compromised in conversion disorder. Paralysis is functional, not due to tissue breakdown or immobility-related damage.
2.Image disturbance may occur, but it is not the priority. Emotional distress precedes and drives the physical symptoms.
4.Intolerance is a physical limitation, but it stems from psychological origin. Addressing anxiety takes precedence over managing mobility.
Take Home Points
- Psychological stressors are the primary cause of conversion disorder symptoms.
- Anxiety-related diagnoses take priority over physical manifestations.
- Functional paralysis does not result in tissue damage or muscle wasting.
- Emotional support and stress management are central to nursing care.
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