NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
Mental Health Exam 3 Concept
Guide (Modules 7, 8, 9)
Somatic Symptom Disorder- NON INTENTIONAL
• people with this disorder are extremely persistently
preoccupied with and distressed by their perceived health
issues
• demand unnecessary tests, noncompliant with provider
recommendations
• significant life impairment, preoccupation and high anxiety
• “doctor shopping” when they do not receive the answers
from physicians, undergo unnecessary surgeries, invasive
diagnostic procedures & drug trials
• usually diagnosed with depressive and/or anxiety disorders
Somatoform Disorder Nursing Interventions
• offer explanations and support- reduces anxiety (don’t reinforce
illness)
• avoid further reinforcement- direct focus away
• observe and record frequency and intensity of somatic symptoms-
establishes baseline
• DO NOT imply symptoms are not real (they are real to pts)
• Assess secondary gains
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
,NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
• Use straightforward approach- avoid power struggle
• Reinforce pts strengths and problem-solving abilities- contributes
to positive self esteem
• Stress reduction- provides alternative coping strategies and
reduces need for meds
Secondary Gains (for somatoform disorders)
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
,NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
• Benefits derived from the symptoms alone. Ex: in the sick role,
patient is not able to perform normal family, work, and social
functions and receives extra attention from loved ones. If pts
derives personal benefit from the symptoms, relinquishing the
symptoms is more difficult.
• Approach to identifying presence of secondary gains is to ask
questions such as:
o What abilities have you lost since the development of your
symptom(s) ?
o How has this problem affected your life? Are there things
you can no longer do?
o Depending upon the individual patient and your rapport,
the nurse might gently approach whether there is
anything positive obtained because of the disorder.
Hypochondria’s (Illness anxiety disorder) Prominent health anxiety
• Preoccupied with having or eventually developing a serious illness
• May or may not present with somatic symptoms, and if so- usually
mild.
o Unintentional and not under conscious control
o Significant distress or dysfunction
• Preoccupied with belief of having a devastating sickness or disease
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
, NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
• Inability to function in personal, social, and occupational roles are
often impaired
Conversion disorder- (also called Functional Neurobiological
Symptom Disorder)
• Presents with one or more symptoms of impaired motor or
sensory function
• Incompatible or exaggeration of recognized neurological
conditions, not explained by another mental or medical
disorder
• Causes significant distress to the patient and impaired social or
occupational functioning
• Symptoms: (episodes are typically brief but may become
chronic)
o weakness or paralysis
o abnormal movement
o swallowing or speech difficulties
o seizures or attacks
o sensory loss or anesthesia
o symptoms involving the senses (blindness or loss of smell)
• symptoms are not voluntarily controlled or created.
• La bella indifference: patients who are highly distressed or show
lack of emotional concern.
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
Mental Health Exam 3 Concept
Guide (Modules 7, 8, 9)
Somatic Symptom Disorder- NON INTENTIONAL
• people with this disorder are extremely persistently
preoccupied with and distressed by their perceived health
issues
• demand unnecessary tests, noncompliant with provider
recommendations
• significant life impairment, preoccupation and high anxiety
• “doctor shopping” when they do not receive the answers
from physicians, undergo unnecessary surgeries, invasive
diagnostic procedures & drug trials
• usually diagnosed with depressive and/or anxiety disorders
Somatoform Disorder Nursing Interventions
• offer explanations and support- reduces anxiety (don’t reinforce
illness)
• avoid further reinforcement- direct focus away
• observe and record frequency and intensity of somatic symptoms-
establishes baseline
• DO NOT imply symptoms are not real (they are real to pts)
• Assess secondary gains
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
,NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
• Use straightforward approach- avoid power struggle
• Reinforce pts strengths and problem-solving abilities- contributes
to positive self esteem
• Stress reduction- provides alternative coping strategies and
reduces need for meds
Secondary Gains (for somatoform disorders)
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
,NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
• Benefits derived from the symptoms alone. Ex: in the sick role,
patient is not able to perform normal family, work, and social
functions and receives extra attention from loved ones. If pts
derives personal benefit from the symptoms, relinquishing the
symptoms is more difficult.
• Approach to identifying presence of secondary gains is to ask
questions such as:
o What abilities have you lost since the development of your
symptom(s) ?
o How has this problem affected your life? Are there things
you can no longer do?
o Depending upon the individual patient and your rapport,
the nurse might gently approach whether there is
anything positive obtained because of the disorder.
Hypochondria’s (Illness anxiety disorder) Prominent health anxiety
• Preoccupied with having or eventually developing a serious illness
• May or may not present with somatic symptoms, and if so- usually
mild.
o Unintentional and not under conscious control
o Significant distress or dysfunction
• Preoccupied with belief of having a devastating sickness or disease
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
, NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
• Inability to function in personal, social, and occupational roles are
often impaired
Conversion disorder- (also called Functional Neurobiological
Symptom Disorder)
• Presents with one or more symptoms of impaired motor or
sensory function
• Incompatible or exaggeration of recognized neurological
conditions, not explained by another mental or medical
disorder
• Causes significant distress to the patient and impaired social or
occupational functioning
• Symptoms: (episodes are typically brief but may become
chronic)
o weakness or paralysis
o abnormal movement
o swallowing or speech difficulties
o seizures or attacks
o sensory loss or anesthesia
o symptoms involving the senses (blindness or loss of smell)
• symptoms are not voluntarily controlled or created.
• La bella indifference: patients who are highly distressed or show
lack of emotional concern.
NURS 2488 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3!!! BEST EXAM
STUDY GUIDE DOWNLOAD A+
