Answer to Question 1
ANS: B
Various types of antidepressants may be helpful in somatic disorders directly by reducing depressive symptoms and hence somatic responses, but also indirectly by affecting nerve circuits that affect not only mood, but fatigue, pain perception, GI distress, and other somatic symptoms. Patients may benefit from short-term use of anti-anxiety medication (benzodiazepines) but require careful monitoring because of risks of dependence. Conventional antipsychotic medications would not be used, although selected atypical antipsychotics may be useful. Narcotic analgesics are not indicated.
Answer to Question 2
ANS: B
Patients with illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriasis) tend to be more anxious about their concerns and display more obsessive attention to detail, whereas the patient with conversion (functional neurological) disorder often exhibits less concern with the symptom they are presenting than would be expected. Neither disorder involves voluntary control of the symptoms. Results of diagnostic testing for both would be negative (i.e., no physiological basis would be found for the symptoms). Secondary gains can occur in both disorders but are not necessary to either. See relationship to audience response question.
Lumbar puncture. Abbreviated LP, the lumbar puncture is a common procedure that withdraws cerebrospi
Urinary catheterization. The procedure involves the insertion of a flexible tube, or catheter, throu
Caring for a patient on isolation precautions
The medical assistant often has to reassure and comfort the patient before effective communication c
Bilateral psoriasis on a patient’s knees.
Most Commonly Diagnosed Mental Disorders