A nurse on an inpatient unit is caring for a client who has somatic symptom disorder. The client comes to the nurse's station and reports chest pain. The nurse knows this is a new symptom for the client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Encourage the client to use relaxation techniques.

Reassure the client that pain is an expected part of their disorder.

Explain to the client that the pain is not real.

Assess the client's vital signs.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Encourage the client to use relaxation techniques. While relaxation techniques can help manage symptoms in somatic symptom disorder, they should not be the first response to a new symptom like chest pain. The nurse must first rule out a medical cause before assuming the pain is psychological.
B. Reassure the client that pain is an expected part of their disorder. Assuming that the pain is purely psychosomatic without assessing for a potential medical emergency could lead to a delay in necessary treatment. Each new symptom should be evaluated independently.
C. Explain to the client that the pain is not real. The pain experienced by clients with somatic symptom disorder is real to them, even if a physical cause is not found. Dismissing their symptoms can damage trust and discourage them from reporting future concerns.
D. Assess the client's vital signs. Any new report of chest pain should be taken seriously, regardless of the client’s psychiatric history. Assessing vital signs ensures that a potential cardiac event or other medical issue is not overlooked before considering psychological factors.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Clients who have somatic symptom disorder exhibit more than one personality. Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by the presence of physical symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment, but it does not involve multiple personalities. This concept is more relevant to dissociative identity disorder.
B. Somatic symptom disorder impacts more women than men. Research indicates that somatic symptom disorder is more prevalent in women, making this information accurate. Women are more likely to report physical symptoms and seek medical help for them.
C. Somatic symptom disorder impacts the majority of clients who have depression. While there is a notable overlap between somatic symptom disorder and depression, it is not accurate to say that most clients with depression have somatic symptom disorder. The relationship is complex and varies among individuals.
D. Clients who have this disorder are intentionally faking their symptoms. Individuals with somatic symptom disorder genuinely experience distress related to their symptoms. Unlike factitious disorder, where symptoms are intentionally produced, clients with somatic symptom disorder do not intentionally fake their symptoms.

A. Orthorexia B. Pica C. Anorexia nervosa D. Rumination disorder

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Orthorexia. Orthorexia is characterized by an unhealthy obsession with eating foods that one considers healthy and the avoidance of foods perceived as unhealthy. The client's report of eliminating specific foods to "eat clean" aligns with this condition, indicating a focus on the quality of food rather than quantity.
B. Pica. Pica is the compulsive consumption of non-food items, such as dirt or chalk. The client's behavior of eliminating foods does not fit this description, as they are not consuming non-nutritive substances.
C. Anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating and an intense fear of gaining weight. While clients with anorexia may eliminate foods, the specific focus on "eating clean" suggests a different motivation than the fear of weight gain typically seen in anorexia.
D. Rumination disorder. Rumination disorder involves the repetitive regurgitation of food, which is then re-chewed or re-swallowed, rather than the intentional avoidance of certain foods. This behavior does not relate to the client's reported actions of eliminating foods from their diet.

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A nurse on an inpatient unit is caring for a client who has somatic symptom disorder. The client comes to the nurse's station and reports chest pain. The nurse knows this is a new symptom for the client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A community health nurse is presenting epidemiological and etiological data related to somatic symptom disorder and related disorders. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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