The nurse is caring for a client in the neighborhood clinic. The client tells the nurse that ever since he was an adolescent, he has avoided social situations because he has one ear that is obviously bigger than the other ear. The nurse observes that one of the client?s ears does not appear to be larger than the other ear. The nurse suspects that the client may be experiencing which of the following?
- A. Complex somatic symptom disorder
- B. Functional neurologic symptoms
- C. Factitious disorder
- D. Body dysmorphic disorder
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Body dysmorphic disorder (D) involves preoccupation with a perceived physical flaw, like an ear size discrepancy, not observed by others. CSSD (A) involves broader somatic complaints, functional neurologic symptoms (B) involve motor/sensory deficits, and factitious disorder (C) involves intentional symptom fabrication.
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The nurse is preparing to interview a client diagnosed with complex somatic symptom disorder. The nurse anticipates that the client will most likely exhibit which of the following?
- A. No facial expression during the interview
- B. Intermittent nodding and glancing at the clock on the wall
- C. Altered mental status
- D. Rapidly changing moods during the interview
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients with CSSD often exhibit distracted behaviors like nodding and glancing at the clock (B), reflecting preoccupation with symptoms. No facial expression (A) suggests schizoid traits, altered mental status (C) indicates delirium, and rapid mood changes (D) suggest bipolar disorder.
A client diagnosed with complex somatic symptom disorder and depression is prescribed medication therapy to treat both the pain and the symptoms of depression. When teaching the client about the medication, which of the following would the nurse emphasize?
- A. Need for signing a no-suicide contract
- B. Avoidance of foods that contain aged cheese
- C. Use of sunscreen when exposed to bright sunlight
- D. Limiting of the amount of water ingested
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SSRIs or SNRIs, commonly used for CSSD and depression, may cause photosensitivity, making sunscreen use (C) important. No-suicide contracts (A) are not medication-related, aged cheese avoidance (B) applies to MAOIs, and water limitation (D) is irrelevant.
The husband of a client diagnosed with complex somatic symptom disorder asks the nurse, What causes this condition? Which response by the nurse would be most accurate?
- A. There is definitely an underlying genetic link for this disorder.
- B. Your wife is experiencing chronic stress that causes hypoarousal.
- C. The symptoms reflect an emotion that your wife cannot verbalize.
- D. The symptoms reflect an internal preoccupation with events.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: CSSD symptoms often reflect unexpressed emotions (C), as psychological distress manifests physically. Genetic links (A) are not definitive, chronic stress (B) is too vague, and preoccupation with events (D) is less accurate than emotional expression.
A nurse is providing care for a client who has complex somatic symptom disorder and is exhibiting anxiety about having a severe illness. Which of the following would be appropriate for the nurse to do? Select all that apply.
- A. Listening closely to the client?s report of symptoms
- B. Discouraging the client from talking about fears
- C. Acknowledging that what the client is saying may be real
- D. Encouraging the client to write down symptoms in a journal
- E. Reviewing symptom pattern with the client
Correct Answer: A,C,D,E
Rationale: Appropriate interventions for CSSD with anxiety include listening closely (A), acknowledging the reality of symptoms (C), journaling symptoms (D), and reviewing patterns (E) to validate and manage distress. Discouraging fear discussion (B) is non-therapeutic.
A client with complex somatic symptom disorder is complaining of significant pain in the joints. When providing care to this client, which of the following would be most important for the nurse to keep in mind?
- A. Opioid analgesics are the primary mode of therapy.
- B. The client?s experience of pain is real.
- C. Complementary therapies are usually of little benefit.
- D. Outcomes need to reflect the biologic aspects of the pain.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The client?s pain experience in CSSD is real (B), requiring validation to build trust and support treatment. Opioids (A) are not primary due to dependency risks, complementary therapies (C) can be beneficial, and biologic outcomes (D) are secondary to psychological focus.
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