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Functional neurological symptom disorder involves neurological symptoms such as paralysis, blindness, seizures, or sensory loss that cannot be explained by a neurological disease. These symptoms are not intentionally produced or feigned; they are unconscious and often related to psychological stress. In this scenario, the client deliberately ingested poison to create illness and gain attention, which clearly indicates intentional behavior rather than unconscious symptom production. Therefore, this diagnosis does not fit the client’s presentation.

Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by one or more physical symptoms that are distressing, accompanied by excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to those symptoms. Importantly, the symptoms are not intentionally produced, and the client genuinely believes they are ill. In this case, the client knowingly ingested poison and explicitly stated the motivation was to feel like the center of a medical drama, demonstrating intentional fabrication or induction of illness rather than distress over unexplained symptoms. This rules out somatic symptom disorder.

Illness anxiety disorder involves excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, often with minimal or no physical symptoms. Clients are preoccupied with health concerns and frequently seek reassurance, but they do not intentionally cause symptoms. The client in this scenario intentionally harmed themselves to assume the sick role and gain attention, which is inconsistent with illness anxiety disorder.

Grounding techniques can be helpful for managing anxiety and distress, particularly in clients with somatic symptom disorder. However, when a client makes a statement suggesting potential self-harm, immediate safety takes priority. Addressing emotional regulation without first assessing suicide risk may delay critical intervention and place the client at risk.

Encouraging the client to verbalize perceived medical needs can support therapeutic communication and help clarify concerns. However, this approach is not appropriate as an initial response to a statement that implies suicidal ideation. The nurse must first assess the immediacy and severity of suicide risk before engaging in further discussion about medical needs.

Encouraging the client to seek care from other providers may reinforce maladaptive health-seeking behaviors commonly seen in somatic symptom disorder. Additionally, this response fails to address the immediate safety concern raised by the client’s statement about ending their life, making it an inappropriate initial intervention.

Exaggerating or fabricating symptoms for attention is characteristic of factitious disorder, not illness anxiety disorder. Clients with illness anxiety disorder are genuinely fearful and anxious about their health, but they do not intentionally produce or falsify symptoms.

Clients with illness anxiety disorder typically experience significant distress and anxiety related to their perceived health concerns. Even in the absence of prominent physical symptoms, their emotional distress is substantial. Therefore, stating that they do not show distress is inaccurate.

Because options B and C are incorrect, “all of the above” cannot be the correct answer. Only the interpretation of normal sensations as signs of disease accurately reflects illness anxiety disorder.

Advising a parent to delay vaccinations contradicts established immunization guidelines and may increase the child’s risk of preventable infectious diseases. This response also reinforces misinformation and does not address the parent’s concern with accurate, evidence-based education.

Suggesting alternative immunizations implies that standard vaccines are unsafe, which is not supported by scientific evidence. This response may increase parental anxiety and contribute to vaccine hesitancy rather than correcting misconceptions.

While this statement attempts to emphasize the importance of vaccination, it is phrased inaccurately and vaguely. It does not clearly correct the misconception about autism and may confuse the parent rather than providing reassurance based on scientific evidence.

Somatic symptom disorder does have effective treatment options, including cognitive behavioral therapy, consistent follow-up with a single primary provider, stress management strategies, and treatment of co-occurring anxiety or depressive disorders. Stating that there are limited effective treatments is inaccurate and may promote hopelessness or misunderstanding among family members.

Although individuals with somatic symptom disorder may experience anxiety or depression, suicidal ideation is not a defining or characteristic feature of the disorder. Education should focus on the core aspects of the condition rather than implying that suicidal thoughts are an expected or defining symptom.

In somatic symptom disorder, symptoms are not intentionally produced or fabricated. The individual genuinely experiences distressing physical symptoms and believes them to be real. Intentional fabrication of symptoms is characteristic of factitious disorder, not somatic symptom disorder.

Asking “why” questions can feel confrontational and may increase agitation or defensiveness in clients with dementia. This response also challenges the client’s belief directly, which can escalate confusion and distress.

This response is directive and dismissive of the client’s emotional state. It does not acknowledge the client’s perception or feelings and may increase resistance to care or agitation.

Although this response attempts to avoid direct confrontation, it still reinforces the client’s delusion by implying that going home is imminent. This can perpetuate confusion rather than providing emotional reassurance.

Asking a “why” question challenges the client’s belief and may feel confrontational. Clients with dementia often lack insight into their condition, and questioning their reasoning can increase confusion, anxiety, and agitation rather than promote cooperation or comfort.

This response is directive and dismisses the client’s emotional experience. It fails to acknowledge the client’s fear or distress and may increase resistance to care, potentially escalating behavioral symptoms.

Although this response avoids direct confrontation, it inadvertently reinforces the client’s delusion by implying that going home will occur. Reinforcing false beliefs can worsen confusion and perpetuate distress in clients with dementia.