The nurse is caring for a client with complex somatic symptom disorder. When assessing this client, the nurse would be especially alert for symptoms of which of the following?
- A. Depression
- B. Avoidant personality disorder
- C. Delirium
- D. Bipolar disorder
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Complex somatic symptom disorder (CSSD) is frequently comorbid with depression (A) due to chronic distress from somatic symptoms. Avoidant personality disorder (B) is less common, delirium (C) involves acute cognitive changes unrelated to CSSD, and bipolar disorder (D) is not typically associated.
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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.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit because she was found trying to inject diluted feces into her hospitalized child?s intravenous line. The client has a history of similar attempts of harming the child. The nurse would most likely suspect which of the following?
- A. Schizoid personality traits
- B. Munchausen?s syndrome by proxy
- C. Functional neurologic symptoms
- D. Borderline personality disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Munchausen?s syndrome by proxy (B) involves fabricating or inducing illness in another, typically a child, for attention, matching the client?s behavior. Schizoid traits (A), functional symptoms (C), and borderline personality (D) do not involve harming others for attention.
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.
While assessing a client thought to have a factitious disorder, the nurse asks the client to describe when she felt nurtured as a child. Which response would the nurse interpret as supporting the client?s diagnosis?
- A. I never felt nurtured or loved when I was growing up.
- B. The only time I felt loved and appreciated was when I made the honor roll at school.
- C. The only time I ever felt loved was when I was sick enough to miss school.
- D. I felt loved and accepted when my father apologized for spanking me so hard.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Feeling nurtured only when sick (C) supports factitious disorder, as it suggests a pattern of seeking attention through illness. Lack of nurturing (A), academic achievement (B), or parental apologies (D) are less specific to this disorder.
A nurse is evaluating the outcomes for a client diagnosed with complex somatic symptom disorder. Which of the following would the nurse most likely identify as interfering with achievement?
- A. Outcomes were stated in realistic terms
- B. Outcomes addressed overall issues
- C. Outcomes indicated small successes
- D. Outcomes were identified for specific behaviors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Broad, non-specific outcomes addressing overall issues (B) can interfere with achievement in CSSD due to lack of focus. Realistic (A), small (C), and specific (D) outcomes support progress by being measurable and attainable.
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