Ch 21 Somatic Illness Book Key Points

Question 1

Somatization means:

Answer 1

transforming mental experiences and states into bodily symptoms.

Question 2

The three central features of somatic symptom illnesses are:

Answer 2

physical complaints that suggest major medical illness but have no demonstrable organic basis;
psychological factors and conflicts that seem important in initiating, exacerbating, and maintaining the symptoms;
and symptoms or magnified health concerns that are not under the client’s conscious control.

Question 3

Somatic symptom illnesses include:

Answer 3

somatic symptom disorder,
conversion disorder,
illness anxiety disorder, and
pain disorder.

Question 4

Malingering means:

Answer 4

feigning physical symptoms for some external gain, such as avoiding work.

Question 5

Factitious disorders are characterized by:

Answer 5

physical symptoms that are feigned or inflicted for the sole purpose of drawing attention to oneself and gaining the emotional benefits of assuming the sick role.

Question 6

MUS and functional somatic syndromes are terms used in general medical practice settings when patients have:

Answer 6

physical symptoms and/or limitations unexplained by a medical diagnosis.

Question 7

(2) are the chief defense mechanisms seen in clients with somatoform disorders.

Answer 7

Internalization and somatization

Question 8

Clients with somatic symptom disorder and conversion reactions eventually may be treated in:

Answer 8

mental health settings.

Clients with other somatic symptom illnesses are typically seen in medical settings.

Question 9

Clients who cope with stress through somatizing are reluctant or unable to identify:

Answer 9

emotional feelings and interpersonal issues and have few coping abilities unrelated to physical symptoms.

Question 10

Nursing interventions that may be effective with clients who somatize involve:

Answer 10

providing health teaching, identifying emotional feelings and stress, and using alternative coping strategies.

Question 11

Coping strategies that are helpful to clients with somatic symptom illnesses include:

Answer 11

relaxation techniques such as guided imagery and deep breathing; distractions such as music; and problem-solving strategies such as identifying stressful situations, learning new methods of managing them, and role-playing social interactions.

Question 12

Clients with somatic symptom disorder actually experience symptoms and the associated discomfort and pain. The nurse should never:

Answer 12

try to confront the client about the origin of these symptoms until the client has learned other coping strategies.

Question 13

Somatic symptom illnesses are:

Answer 13

chronic or recurrent, so progress toward treatment outcomes can be slow and difficult.

Question 14

Nurses caring for clients with somatic symptom illnesses:

Answer 14

must show patience and understanding toward them as they struggle through years of recurrent somatic complaints and attempts to learn new emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies.