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.
You may also like to solve these questions
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 client with complex somatic symptom disorder also has anxiety. Which of the following would the nurse expect to be prescribed?
- A. Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
- B. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
- C. Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)
- D. Atypical antipsychotic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SSRIs (B) are commonly prescribed for CSSD with anxiety due to their efficacy in managing both somatic and anxiety symptoms. MAOIs (A) and TCAs (C) are less preferred due to side effects, and atypical antipsychotics (D) are not first-line.
A client has made multiple visits to the clinic. The nurse suspects that the client may be experiencing complex somatic symptom disorder based on which of the following?
- A. Expressions of concern about psychological problems
- B. Indications that parents were always in good health
- C. Reports of the same symptoms repeatedly
- D. Evidence of a need for social support from her friends
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Repeated reports of the same somatic symptoms (C) are characteristic of CSSD, reflecting persistent preoccupation with physical complaints. Psychological concerns (A) are less specific, parental health (B) is irrelevant, and social support needs (D) are not diagnostic.
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.
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.
Nokea