A patient is being evaluated for the diagnosis of ...

[dejastew]

A patient is being evaluated for the diagnosis of hypochondriasis. Which assessment ob-servation of the patient would serve to confirm this diagnosis?
 
  a. Reports, Pain in my back is certainly from a spinal tumor.
  b. Patient expresses no concern over her sudden loss of hearing.
  c. Patient shows insight into the role stress plays in the illness.
  d. Reports, I don't like doctors and so I haven't been to one in years.

Question 2

The nurse reinforces the recommendation of group therapy for a patient with a somatiza-tion disorder. What knowledge is this recommendation based upon?
 
  a. Group therapy is the one therapy of choice for this anxiety disorder.
  b. Group therapy is therapist driven and managed to eliminate stress on the patients.
  c. The group will support the patient in all complaints of physical illness as well as emotional distress.
  d. This therapy allows the patient to learn what has successfully worked for other patients with the disorder.

[kilada]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
With this disorder, the individual focuses on fears of having or the idea of having a serious medical disorder on the basis of his or her misinterpretation of bodily symptoms such as as-suming pain is the result of a tumor. La belle indifference, showing little or no concern, oc-curs with conversion disorders. Individuals with hypochondriasis make multiple visits to physicians with health concerns. Showing insight into the condition would not be displayed at the time of diagnosis, since such improvement is a result of appropriate treatment.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
An advantage of group therapy is that it is an opportunity for the patient to learn from the successes and failures of others with similar symptoms. The group therapist will not allow members to support dysfunctional verbalizations. This disorder is treated with a variety of treatment modalities. This therapy is done with cooperation between therapist and patients.