Nokea
A patient diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder says, I have pain from an undiagnosed injury. I can't take care of myself. I need pain medicine six or seven times a day. I feel like a baby because my family has to help me so much. It is important for the nurse to assess:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: secondary gains. In this scenario, the patient's focus on pain and dependency suggests potential secondary gains, such as attention or avoidance of responsibilities. Assessing secondary gains helps in understanding the underlying motivations for the symptoms. Mood (choice A) may be important but doesn't directly address the patient's behavior. Cognitive style (choice B) and identity/memory (choice D) are not as relevant in this context as secondary gains in somatic symptom disorder.