Practice Question
A 25-year-old client presents with chronic pain in multiple locations, excessive anxiety about symptoms, and frequent healthcare visits. Despite extensive testing, no medical cause is found. Which diagnosis best fits this presentation?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Somatic symptom disorder
Rationale:
🌟Somatic symptom disorder involves persistent physical symptoms that cause distress or significant disruption in daily life.
🌟 Multiple, chronic complaints (e.g., pain in various areas), excessive anxiety about symptoms, and repeated medical consultations despite negative test results.
🌟 Nursing focus: Provide consistent, supportive care, validate the patient’s experience, avoid unnecessary tests, and teach coping strategies for managing symptoms.
🌟 Differentiation: Unlike illness anxiety disorder, the emphasis is on actual physical symptoms, not just fear of illness.
❌ Incorrect:
Illness anxiety disorder – Focuses on fear of having a serious illness, rather than chronic physical symptoms.
Factitious disorder – Symptoms are intentionally fabricated for attention or secondary gain.
Conversion disorder – Symptoms are neurological (e.g., paralysis, blindness), not multiple widespread pain complaints.
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This question is from Examplify NUR 144 Unit 2 Fall 2025 which contains 49 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: Examplify Exam(s)
- Domain: Mental Health
- Answer Choices: 4