Which of the following best describes illness anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondriac?
Overreaction of a medical symptom.
Faked symptoms.
Abnormal voluntary motor or sensory dysfunction.
Worry about health despite no symptoms.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Overreaction of a medical symptom. While individuals with illness anxiety disorder (IAD) may misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of serious illness, the key feature is excessive health-related worry in the absence of significant symptoms, rather than just overreacting to existing symptoms.
B. Faked symptoms. Feigning symptoms is characteristic of factitious disorder (formerly Munchausen syndrome) or malingering, where individuals intentionally produce or exaggerate symptoms for attention or external gain. In IAD, the concern is genuine but unfounded, rather than intentionally fabricated.
C. Abnormal voluntary motor or sensory dysfunction. This describes conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), where individuals experience neurological symptoms (e.g., paralysis, blindness, or seizures) without a medical explanation, typically triggered by psychological stress.
D. Worry about health despite no symptoms. Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is marked by persistent, excessive fear of having a serious illness, despite minimal or no symptoms and repeated medical reassurance. Patients often engage in excessive health-related behaviors (e.g., frequent doctor visits, checking their body) or avoid medical care altogether due to fear of diagnosis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Stereotypic movements. Repetitive motor behaviors, such as hand-flapping, rocking, and spinning, are characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These stereotypic movements serve as self-stimulatory behaviors and may help regulate sensory input.
B. Restricted interest. Individuals with ASD often display intense, fixated interests in specific topics or objects (e.g., an obsession with maps, numbers, or train schedules). These restricted interests are highly focused and often interfere with daily functioning.
C. Social communication deficit. Impaired social interaction and communication are core features of ASD. Affected individuals struggle with understanding social cues, making eye contact, interpreting facial expressions, and engaging in reciprocal conversations.
D. Receptive language dysfunction. While language delays can be present in ASD, receptive language dysfunction (difficulty understanding spoken language) is more characteristic of specific language impairment (SLI) or aphasia rather than ASD. In ASD, deficits in pragmatic (social) communication are more pronounced than in purely receptive language processing.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Lack of motivation. Avolition, not alogia, refers to a severe lack of motivation to initiate and sustain goal-directed activities. It is a common negative symptom of schizophrenia, leading to difficulties in completing tasks such as hygiene, work, or social activities.
B. No empathy. Lack of empathy is more commonly associated with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) rather than schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia may struggle with social interactions, but this is due to cognitive deficits rather than a lack of concern for others.
C. Reduction in quantity of words spoken. Alogia refers to poverty of speech, characterized by diminished verbal output and difficulty generating spontaneous speech. It is a negative symptom of schizophrenia, often presenting as brief, empty responses or difficulty engaging in conversation.
D. Inability to experience pleasure. Anhedonia refers to the inability to feel pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable. It is another negative symptom of schizophrenia and is also seen in major depressive disorder and other mood disorders.
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