Which of the following is true about clients with illness anxiety disorder?
They may interpret normal body sensations as signs of disease.
They often exaggerate or fabricate physical symptoms for attention.
They do not show signs of distress about their physical symptoms.
All the above are true statements.
The Correct Answer is A
Illness anxiety disorder is a psychiatric condition marked by excessive preoccupation, fear, and hypervigilance about having or acquiring a serious illness. Individuals often misinterpret normal bodily sensations—such as belching, sweating, or mild discomfort—as signs of severe disease. Despite minimal or absent somatic symptoms, their anxiety persists for at least six months and leads to significant distress or impairment. The disorder may present as care-seeking or care-avoidant behavior, and reassurance rarely alleviates their concern.
Rationale for correct answers
1. Clients with illness anxiety disorder often misinterpret normal sensations as pathological, driven by persistent health-related anxiety and catastrophic thinking.
Rationale for incorrect answers
2. Fabrication of symptoms is typical of factitious disorder or malingering, not illness anxiety disorder, which involves genuine fear without intentional deception.
3. Clients with illness anxiety disorder show distress, not indifference; their anxiety is centered on the possibility of serious illness.
4. Not all listed statements are true; only the misinterpretation of normal sensations aligns with the diagnostic criteria for illness anxiety disorder.
Take Home Points
- Illness anxiety disorder involves misinterpretation of normal bodily sensations as signs of serious illness.
- It differs from factitious disorder and malingering, which involve intentional symptom fabrication.
- Clients often experience significant distress and impairment despite minimal physical symptoms.
- Reassurance is typically ineffective; cognitive behavioral strategies are preferred for management.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Somatic symptom disorderinvolves persistent physical symptoms that are distressing and often medically unexplained. These symptoms are accompanied by excessive thoughts, emotional distress, and behavioral responses. The disorder reflects maladaptive coping with psychological stress, and education focuses on helping clients understand the mind-body connection and develop healthier coping strategies. Effective teaching should lead to insight into how stress influences physical symptoms and promote functional improvement.
Rationale for correct answers
3.This statement reflects understanding that stress managementcan reduce symptom intensity, indicating insight into the psychological componentof the disorder.
Rationale for incorrect answers
1.Believing the doctor thinks symptoms are fake reflects misunderstandingand perpetuates stigma, not therapeutic insight.
2.Trying harder to control symptoms implies volitional control, which is inaccurate and reinforces guilt and frustration.
4.Hopelessness about improvement reflects cognitive distortion, not effective learning or engagement with treatment strategies.
Take Home Points
- Effective teaching about somatic symptom disorder emphasizes the role of stress and emotional regulation in symptom management.
- Insight into the psychological basis of symptoms supports therapeutic progress.
- Misbeliefs about faking or control hinder recovery and must be addressed.
- Education should promote adaptive coping and reduce symptom preoccupation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Somatic symptom disorderinvolves persistent physical symptoms that are distressing and often medically unexplained. These symptoms are accompanied by emotional distress, maladaptive coping, and preoccupationwith bodily concerns. Group therapy aims to reduce symptom focus, improve emotional insight, and foster interpersonal support. A positive therapeutic outcome is reflected when clients begin to associate emotional expression and interpersonal connection with physical relief, indicating progress in emotional processing.
Rationale for correct answers
1.Feeling physically better after talking reflects emotional releaseand growing awareness of the mind-bodyconnection, a key therapeutic goal in somatic symptom disorder.
Rationale for incorrect answers
2.Passive listening may offer some benefit, but lack of engagementlimits emotional processing and therapeutic growth.
3.Minimizing one’s own symptoms reflects suppression, not insight; it may hinder emotional validation and self-awareness.
4.Labeling others as having emotional problems shows externalization, which deflects personal insight and perpetuates denial.
Take Home Points
- Positive outcomes in group therapy include emotional insight and reduced symptom preoccupation.
- Verbal expression of feelings can alleviate physical distress in somatic symptom disorder.
- Passive participation limits therapeutic benefit; active engagement is encouraged.
- Externalizing or minimizing symptoms reflects poor insight and impedes progress.
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