Somatic Symptom Illnesses
Somatic Symptom Illnesses ( 30 Questions)
A nurse is assessing clients with somatic symptom illnesses. Select all the statements that accurately describe illness anxiety disorder.
The client experiences altered voluntary motor functions. This choice is not accurate in describing illness anxiety disorder. Altered voluntary motor functions are more characteristic of conversion disorder, not illness anxiety disorder.
The client has excessive or maladaptive responses to symptoms. This choice accurately describes illness anxiety disorder. Individuals with this disorder exhibit excessive worry and preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious illness, often responding to mild or non-specific symptoms with disproportionate anxiety and distress.
The client is preoccupied with having a serious illness. This choice is correct in describing illness anxiety disorder. Preoccupation with having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence, is a hallmark of this disorder. This preoccupation can lead to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
The client intentionally produces physical symptoms. This choice is not accurate for illness anxiety disorder. Intentional symptom production is more characteristic of factitious disorder, where individuals purposefully produce or feign symptoms for various reasons.
The client's symptoms are not intentionally produced and cause distress. This choice accurately characterizes illness anxiety disorder. The symptoms experienced by individuals with this disorder are not intentionally produced but are associated with distress due to the individual's persistent fear and belief in having a serious illness. ​​​​​​​
Choice A rationale:
The client experiences altered voluntary motor functions. This choice is not accurate in describing illness anxiety disorder. Altered voluntary motor functions are more characteristic of conversion disorder, not illness anxiety disorder.
Choice B rationale:
The client has excessive or maladaptive responses to symptoms. This choice accurately describes illness anxiety disorder. Individuals with this disorder exhibit excessive worry and preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious illness, often responding to mild or non-specific symptoms with disproportionate anxiety and distress.
Choice C rationale:
The client is preoccupied with having a serious illness. This choice is correct in describing illness anxiety disorder. Preoccupation with having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence, is a hallmark of this disorder. This preoccupation can lead to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
Choice D rationale:
The client intentionally produces physical symptoms. This choice is not accurate for illness anxiety disorder. Intentional symptom production is more characteristic of factitious disorder, where individuals purposefully produce or feign symptoms for various reasons.
Choice E rationale:
The client's symptoms are not intentionally produced and cause distress. This choice accurately characterizes illness anxiety disorder. The symptoms experienced by individuals with this disorder are not intentionally produced but are associated with distress due to the individual's persistent fear and belief in having a serious illness.