Author Question: The nurse taking care of a patient recently diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder knows that which ... (Read 24 times)

abc · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

The nurse taking care of a patient recently diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder knows that which biological symptoms are related to this disorder? Select all that apply.

1. Pain
2. Anxiety
3. Gastrointestinal distress
4. Paralysis
5. Blindness

Question 2

A 29-year-old patient is admitted with nausea and diarrhea. She has not eaten anything since she learned her dog was hit by a car three days ago. She complains of a migraine. The patient has a flat affect and her family says she has not

The patient is exhibiting which personality trait?
1. Negative Affectivity
2. Hypochondriasis
3. Dysthymia
4. Alexithymia

kescobar@64 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 1, 3, 4, 5
Explanation: Patients with somatic symptom disorder have symptoms that are physical in nature and cause significant distress and inability to function in activities of daily living. These may include pain, gastrointestinal distress, paralysis, or blindness. Psychological symptoms of somatic symptom disorder include persistent anxiety about symptoms and disproportionate and persistent thoughts about symptoms that result in disruption of daily living.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 4
Explanation: Individuals with somatic symptom and related disorders complain of biological disorders focusing on those complaints to the extent of risking functional impairment in other domains. An individual with alexithymia is unable to identify or define feelings into words. Alexithymia has been linked to PTSD and migraine headaches. Negative affectivity is an independent risk factor for having multiple somatic symptoms; hypochondriasis refers to illness anxiety disorder; and dysthymia is a chronic depression.