To plan effective care for patients diagnosed with somatic system disorders, the nurse should understand that patients have difficulty giving up the symptoms because the symptoms:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale:
1. Patients with somatic symptom disorders often experience health anxiety.
2. Symptoms provide a form of relief or distraction from this anxiety.
3. Understanding this helps nurses plan effective care by addressing underlying anxiety.
4. Option D is correct as it directly addresses the role of symptoms in providing relief.
Summary:
- Option A is incorrect because chronicity does not explain the reluctance to give up symptoms.
- Option B is incorrect as having a physiological basis does not necessarily relate to difficulty giving up symptoms.
- Option C is incorrect because symptoms in somatic system disorders are typically not voluntarily controlled.