Somatization Jeopardy Template

What it is?

When they present

Interventions/Treatment

Care Seeker/Avoider

Conversion Disorder/Factitious disorders

100

What is a key characteristic of somatic symptom disorder that distinguishes it from other psychiatric disorders?

A. The presence of hallucinations and delusions.
B. The expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms.
C. The occurrence of manic episodes.
D. The presence of a persistent low mood and anhedonia

B. The expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms.
Rationale: Somatic symptom disorder involves the expression of psychological and emotional stress through physical symptoms, such as pain and fatigue.

100

In the healthcare setting, what is a significant predictor of misdiagnosing somatic symptom disorders?

A. The patient's pleasant demeanor.
B. The provider’s dissatisfaction with the clinical encounter.
C. The frequency of the patient's visits.
D. The patient’s insistence on extensive medical testing.

B. The provider’s dissatisfaction with the clinical encounter.
Rationale: The strongest predictor of misdiagnosing somatic disorders is the primary care provider’s dissatisfaction with the clinical encounter, which can lead to less thorough evaluations and misdiagnosis.

100

Which of the following treatments is commonly used for patients with somatic symptom disorder?

A. Hypnotherapy and CBT therapy.
B. Antipsychotic medications.
C. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
D. Long-term hospitalization.

A. Hypnotherapy and CBT therapy.
Rationale: Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are effective treatments for somatic symptom disorder, helping patients manage their symptoms and reduce anxiety.

100

A nurse is working with a patient who has been diagnosed with Illness Anxiety Disorder. What is a common behavior the nurse might observe?

A. The patient avoids discussing their health concerns.
B. The patient frequently self-scans for signs of illness and talks constantly about health.
C. The patient displays a high level of self-compassion and acceptance.
D. The patient shows no concern about their health despite significant symptoms.

B. The patient frequently self-scans for signs of illness and talks constantly about health.
Rationale: Patients with Illness Anxiety Disorder often engage in frequent self-scanning for signs of illness and constantly talk about their health and possible illnesses, even when symptoms are mild or absent.

100

What is the primary difference between Factitious Disorder and Malingering?

A. Factitious Disorder involves intentional faking of symptoms for secondary gain.
B. Malingering involves intentional faking of symptoms for secondary gain.
C. Factitious Disorder is not intentional.
D. Malingering does not involve seeking medical attention

B. Malingering involves intentional faking of symptoms for secondary gain.
Rationale: Malingering involves intentionally faking symptoms for secondary gain, such as monetary rewards or avoiding responsibilities, whereas Factitious Disorder involves faking symptoms without obvious external rewards, often to gain attention or sympathy.

200

In a study of US college students, which factors were associated with the presence of physical symptoms such as low back pain and shortness of breath?

A. High levels of physical activity and good sleep hygiene.
B. Feelings of sadness, exhaustion, and being overwhelmed.
C. High academic performance and social support.
D. Regular exercise and balanced diet.

B. Feelings of sadness, exhaustion, and being overwhelmed.
Rationale: In the study, psychological factors such as feelings of sadness, exhaustion, and being overwhelmed were associated with physical symptoms like low back pain and shortness of breath.

200

A nurse is caring for a patient with somatic symptom disorder who expresses feeling discounted and misunderstood by previous healthcare providers. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

A. Reassure the patient that their symptoms are imaginary.
B. Validate the patient’s experiences and provide empathetic listening.
C. Encourage the patient to ignore their symptoms.
D. Limit the amount of time spent discussing symptoms to avoid reinforcement

B. Validate the patient’s experiences and provide empathetic listening.
Rationale: Validating the patient’s experiences and providing empathetic listening can help the patient feel understood and supported, which is crucial for building trust and improving care outcomes.

200

A patient with somatic symptom disorder presents with chest pain. What is the nurse's immediate action?

A. Reassure the patient that their pain is likely psychosomatic.
B. Perform an EKG to rule out any cardiac issues.
C. Schedule a psychotherapy session for the patient.
D. Administer pain medication and observe the patient.

B. Perform an EKG to rule out any cardiac issues.
Rationale: Chest pain should always be taken seriously, and an EKG is necessary to rule out any cardiac issues, regardless of the suspected somatic symptom disorder.

200

A patient is diagnosed with Illness Anxiety Disorder. Which characteristic differentiates this disorder from somatic symptom disorder?

A. Presence of multiple severe symptoms.
B. Extreme worry about having a disease despite mild or absent symptoms.
C. Frequent visits to multiple healthcare providers.
D. Strong belief in the severity of their symptoms

B. Extreme worry about having a disease despite mild or absent symptoms.
Rationale: Illness Anxiety Disorder is characterized by extreme worry and fear about having a disease, even when symptoms are mild or absent, unlike somatic symptom disorder where actual symptoms are more prominent.

200

A caregiver consistently brings a child to the hospital with exaggerated or fabricated symptoms. What condition might this behavior indicate?

A. Conversion Disorder
B. Somatic Symptom Disorder
C. Muchausen by proxy
D. Malingering

- C. Muchausen by proxy
- Rationale: Muchausen by proxy involves a caregiver falsifying or inducing illness in another person, typically a child, to gain attention or sympathy.

300

A nurse is caring for a patient with somatization. Which of the following symptoms might the nurse expect the patient to report?

A. Persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
B. Multiple physical complaints such as headaches and abdominal pain.
C. Recurrent panic attacks.
D. Obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

B. Multiple physical complaints such as headaches and abdominal pain.
Rationale: Patients with somatization express psychological stress through physical symptoms, including headaches, abdominal pain, and other somatic complaints.

300

Healthcare providers often use less patient-centered communication with patients suspected of somatic symptom disorder. What is one consequence of this communication approach?

A. Increased patient satisfaction.
B. Shorter healthcare visits.
C. Increased risk of misdiagnosis.
D. Improved symptom management.

C. Increased risk of misdiagnosis.
Rationale: Less patient-centered communication can lead to dissatisfaction in the clinical encounter and increase the risk of misdiagnosing somatic disorders, particularly if providers are frustrated or feel challenged by the patient's symptoms.

300

What is a key nursing intervention for patients with somatic symptom disorder to help manage their condition?

A. Focus exclusively on psychosocial issues.
B. Encourage the development of self-compassion and an internal locus of control.
C. Avoid discussing the patient's symptoms to prevent reinforcement.
D. Refer the patient for repetitive diagnostic testing.

B. Encourage the development of self-compassion and an internal locus of control.
Rationale: Encouraging self-compassion and an internal locus of control can help patients manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being.

300

A nurse is working with a patient with Illness Anxiety Disorder who has comorbid depression. What role does depression play in this disorder?

A. It typically reduces concerns about illness.
B. It may amplify concerns about health and increase anxiety.
C. It has no impact on the patient's illness anxiety symptoms.
D. It always leads to improvement in illness anxiety symptoms

B. It may amplify concerns about health and increase anxiety.
Rationale: Depression can amplify concerns about health and increase anxiety, contributing to the overall severity of Illness Anxiety Disorder symptoms.

300

A patient presents with dramatic symptoms and demands specific treatments. The healthcare team suspects Factitious Disorder. What behavior might this patient exhibit if their demands are not met?

A. Calm acceptance of the team's decisions.
B. Seeking additional medical opinions.
C. Anger and accusations of incompetence and maltreatment.
D. Immediate improvement of symptoms

C. Anger and accusations of incompetence and maltreatment.
Rationale: Patients with Factitious Disorder often react with anger and accusations if their demands for specific treatments are not met, as they seek attention and validation from healthcare providers.

400

A patient presents with multiple physical symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, and dizziness. They frequently seek medical help but remain concerned about their health. Which disorder is most likely?

A. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
B. Somatic Symptom Disorder
C. Panic Disorder
D. Major Depressive Disorder

B. Somatic Symptom Disorder
Rationale: Somatic Symptom Disorder is characterized by an excessive focus on physical symptoms, persistent help-seeking behavior, and significant health concerns despite medical reassurance.

400

A patient presents with chest pain, and the healthcare provider suspects somatic symptom disorder. What should the nurse's initial action be?

A. Assume the chest pain is psychosomatic and reassure the patient.
B. Conduct a thorough assessment to rule out any potential medical causes.
C. Refer the patient to a psychiatrist immediately.
D. Ignore the chest pain to avoid reinforcing the patient's somatic symptoms.

B. Conduct a thorough assessment to rule out any potential medical causes.
Rationale: It is crucial to first rule out any potential medical causes for the chest pain before considering a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder. This ensures that any serious underlying conditions are not missed.

400

Which medication classes are commonly used to manage symptoms in patients with somatic symptom disorder?

A. Antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
B. Tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine).
C. Stimulants and benzodiazepines.
D. Opioids and muscle relaxants.

B. Tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine).
Rationale: Tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), are commonly used to manage symptoms of mood and emotional dysregulation in patients with somatic symptom disorder.

400

A patient with somatic symptom disorder is a care avoider. What behavior is this patient likely to exhibit?

A. Frequently seeks reassurance from healthcare providers.
B. Avoids medical appointments to prevent confirmation of illness.
C. Engages in excessive exercise to manage symptoms.
D. Constantly discusses their health concerns with friends and family.

B. Avoids medical appointments to prevent confirmation of illness.
Rationale: Care avoiders do everything they can to avoid interacting with healthcare providers to eliminate the possibility of confirming an illness.

400

A patient with Conversion Disorder reports paralysis in their legs. Which of the following should the nurse explore to understand the potential cause?

A. Recent changes in the patient's diet.
B. The patient's current exercise routine.
C. Any recent emotional conflicts or stressors.
D. The patient's sleep patterns.

C. Any recent emotional conflicts or stressors.
Rationale: Conversion Disorder involves the transfer of emotional conflicts or stressors into physical symptoms, so exploring recent emotional or stressful events can help identify potential causes.

500

In the context of somatic symptom disorder, what role does self-compassion play for patients?

A. It has no significant impact on their health.
B. It is a protective factor that fosters emotional resilience.
C. It leads to an increase in somatic complaints.
D. It reduces the need for medical interventions.

B. It is a protective factor that fosters emotional resilience.
Rationale: Self-compassion helps individuals be caring, warm, and understanding toward themselves, which fosters emotional resilience and better adaptation to stress and life situations

500

A patient suddenly loses the ability to see but displays a lack of emotional concern about this dramatic symptom. What is this response called?

A. Hypochondriasis
B. La belle indifference
C. Conversion reaction
D. Factitious disorder

B. La belle indifference
Rationale: La belle indifference refers to a lack of emotional concern or indifference about dramatic symptoms, which is characteristic of Conversion Disorder.