Nokea
The husband of a woman with a somatic symptom illness asks the nurse why the doctors cannot find anything wrong with her. Which would be the appropriate explanation for the nurse to offer?
- A. She is not really experiencing the symptoms. She is making them up to get attention.
- B. There is no physical cause. Mental distress is causing the symptoms, even though she is not aware of it.
- C. She controls the symptoms when she isn't feeling much stress. It is hard to diagnose when the symptoms are intermittent.
- D. There is a physical cause. It just has not been detected yet.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Somatic symptom illnesses cause real symptoms due to mental distress, not consciously controlled or fabricated, despite negative diagnostic results.
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The client states, 'I can't go to group today. I have a very upset stomach this morning.' Which would be the nurse's most appropriate response?
- A. You have to go to group. The doctor has ordered it.
- B. Okay, you can miss this time.
- C. I know you don't feel well, but it's important for you to participate in therapy.
- D. You aren't really feeling nauseous. It is part of your illness.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Validating the client's feelings while encouraging participation supports therapy without dismissing symptoms.
Psychosocial theorists propose that somatic symptom illnesses are an indirect expression of stress and anxiety through physical symptoms. Which is the primary defense mechanism used in somatoform disorders?
- A. Somatization
- B. Identification
- C. Internalization
- D. Repression
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Internalization involves unconsciously keeping stress or anxiety inside, expressed through physical symptoms in somatoform disorders.
Which of the following terms are applicable when a person inflicts illness or injury on someone else to gain the attention of emergency medical personnel or to be a 'hero' for saving the victim?
- A. Malingering
- B. Factitious disorder
- C. Munchausen's syndrome by proxy
- D. Induced illness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Munchausen's syndrome by proxy involves inflicting harm on another to gain attention or hero status.
Which statement would indicate to the nurse that the client has understood somatic symptom illness?
- A. As soon as my symptoms go away, I'll be my old self again.
- B. How I handle stress and emotions can affect my physical health.
- C. I have to avoid stress all my life to avoid getting sick again.
- D. Taking medication won't help my pain since it's caused by stress.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Understanding the link between stress, emotions, and physical health reflects accurate insight into somatic symptom illness.
Which are the factors that are currently considered to be possible reasons for the increased incidence of somatization in women? Select all that apply.
- A. Boys in the United States are taught to be stoic and to take it like a man.
- B. Women seek medical care more frequently.
- C. Women more often receive treatment for psychological symptoms.
- D. Women are more likely to have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
- E. Unexplained female pains
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D
Rationale: Cultural expectations of stoicism in men, frequent medical care-seeking, treatment for psychological symptoms, and higher rates of childhood sexual abuse contribute to somatization in women.