A nurse is reviewing treatment options for a client who has functional neurological symptom disorder. Which of the following treatments should the nurse identify as being most effective for this disorder?

A. Withdrawn: The child's withdrawn behavior, such as looking downcast and avoiding eye contact, may indicate emotional distress or a potential psychological issue, which can be associated with factitious disorder. Individuals with factitious disorder may exhibit emotional signs that reflect their internal struggles and manipulation of health-related situations.
B. Multiple hospitalizations: Frequent hospitalizations, especially without a clear medical diagnosis, can suggest factitious disorder. This pattern often reflects a behavior where an individual seeks medical attention and care, indicating a need to assume the sick role.
C. Unexplained abdominal pain: The presence of unexplained abdominal pain, particularly when combined with a history of seeking medical attention, aligns with factitious disorder. In this condition, individuals often feign or produce symptoms for psychological reasons, leading to repeated medical evaluations without a clear medical basis.
D. Excessive thinking about health: An intense preoccupation with health issues can be indicative of factitious disorder. This behavior demonstrates a focus on illness that may lead to manipulative behaviors in seeking attention or care.
E. Recent trauma: While trauma can contribute to various psychological conditions, it is not specifically indicative of factitious disorder. Many individuals may experience trauma without developing this disorder, making it less relevant in this context.

A. "Clients who have this disorder consciously control the manifestations." Functional neurological symptom disorder (formerly conversion disorder) involves involuntary neurological symptoms, such as paralysis, blindness, or seizures, that lack a medical explanation. Clients do not consciously produce or control these symptoms.
B. "Clients who have this disorder exhibit more than one personality." Multiple personalities are characteristic of dissociative identity disorder (DID), not functional neurological symptom disorder. Clients with functional neurological symptom disorder experience physical symptoms, not identity fragmentation.
C. "Feeling outside of one's body is a primary manifestation of this disorder." Feeling detached from one's body, known as depersonalization, is a symptom of depersonalization/derealization disorder. Functional neurological symptom disorder primarily involves physical, rather than perceptual, disturbances.
D. "The manifestations of this disorder are worse during times of increased stress." Symptoms of functional neurological symptom disorder often intensify during emotional or psychological stress. Stress-related factors contribute to the onset or worsening of symptoms, making stress management a key part of treatment.