Which prescription medication would the nurse expect to be ...

[mcmcdaniel]

Which prescription medication would the nurse expect to be prescribed for a patient diagnosed with a somatic symptom disorder?
 
  a. Narcotic analgesics for use as needed for acute pain
  b. Antidepressant medications to treat underlying depression
  c. Long-term use of benzodiazepines to support coping with anxiety
  d. Conventional antipsychotic medications to correct cognitive distortions

Question 2

Which assessment data would help the health care team distinguish symptoms of conversion (functional neurological) disorder from symptoms of illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriasis)?
 
  a. Voluntary control of symptoms
  b. Patient's style of presentation
  c. Results of diagnostic testing
  d. The role of secondary gains

[gabrielle_lawrence]

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.

[mcmcdaniel]

Correct answers!

[gabrielle_lawrence]

Great! Please up vote