Rasmussen Mental Health - Exam 3/85
Questions and Answers
Somatoform Disorders
Definition - -Subjective Characterized by the presence of one or more
physical symptoms accompanied by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and
behavioral reactions that cannot be defined by an underlying medical
condition or disease.
-Somatoform disorder
Highest Priority - -Often undergo unnecessary surgeries, invasive diagnostic
procedures, and drug trials, all of which can be life-threatening.
-Somatoform Disorder
Secondary Gains - -Somatization may be used for secondary gains such as
attention and decreased responsibilities.
-Hypochondriasis or Illness Anxiety Disorder
Definition - -Preoccupied with having or eventually developing a serious
illness.
May or may not present with somatic symptoms, and if they do, the
symptoms are usually mild.
High level of anxiety and alarm about their health lasting at least 6 month.
May either excessively check for problems or avoid medical care.
-Hypochondriasis
Signs and Symptoms - -The most common symptoms are pain, gastric or
intestinal distress, palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, sexual
dysfunction, neurological symptoms, and fatigue.
-Hypochondriasis
Nursing Interventions - -Nurses role is to assess for any objective data and
to explain the health complaints. Show concern, but avoid fostering
dependency.
-Conversion Disorder
Definition
Common Signs and Symptoms - -Medical disorder (objective) that cannot be
explained.
This disorder presents with one or more symptoms of impaired motor or
sensory function. Findings are incompatible with or an exaggeration of
, recognized neurological conditions and are not better explained by another
mental or medical disorder.
Most common are blindness, deafness, paralysis, inability to talk. Symptoms
are beyond conscious control and are related directly to conflict .
-Conversion Disorder
Nursing Interventions - -Encourage independence in ADL's in a matter of fact
manner.
-Dissociative Disorders
Definition - -A disturbance in the normally well-integrated continuum of
consciousness, memory, identity, and perception.
Dissociation is an unconscious defense mechanism to protect the individual
against overwhelming anxiety related to past trauma, and ranges from minor
to severe in presentation.
Patients with dissociative disorders have intact reality testing, meaning they
are not delusional or hallucinating.
-Dissociative Fugue - -The patient in a fugue state frequently relocates and
assumes a new identity while not recalling previous identity or places
previously inhabited.
The distracters are more consistent with paranoid schizophrenia, generalized
anxiety disorder, or bipolar disorder. Head injury, posttraumatic stress
disorder, or a neurological disorder should also be considered.
-Dissociative Amnesia - -Related to a traumatic incident, and may be
accompanied by a fugue where the patient flees from their normal life to
another location and starts a new life. Gradually over time, memories of the
original life may be triggered. Patients can become confused and
embarrassed when the amnesia subsides and memory returns.
-Dissociative Identity Disorder - -The most severe of the dissociative
disorders. Disruption of identity by two or more distinct personality states.
Involves discontinuity in the sense of self, accompanied by alterations in
affect, behavior, memory, and functioning. Patients lose time, meaning they
do not have memory of periods of time ranging from minutes to weeks.
The patient is often unaware of the other personalities. Each alternate
personality has its own pattern of personality, perception, and memories.
-Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Questions and Answers
Somatoform Disorders
Definition - -Subjective Characterized by the presence of one or more
physical symptoms accompanied by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and
behavioral reactions that cannot be defined by an underlying medical
condition or disease.
-Somatoform disorder
Highest Priority - -Often undergo unnecessary surgeries, invasive diagnostic
procedures, and drug trials, all of which can be life-threatening.
-Somatoform Disorder
Secondary Gains - -Somatization may be used for secondary gains such as
attention and decreased responsibilities.
-Hypochondriasis or Illness Anxiety Disorder
Definition - -Preoccupied with having or eventually developing a serious
illness.
May or may not present with somatic symptoms, and if they do, the
symptoms are usually mild.
High level of anxiety and alarm about their health lasting at least 6 month.
May either excessively check for problems or avoid medical care.
-Hypochondriasis
Signs and Symptoms - -The most common symptoms are pain, gastric or
intestinal distress, palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, sexual
dysfunction, neurological symptoms, and fatigue.
-Hypochondriasis
Nursing Interventions - -Nurses role is to assess for any objective data and
to explain the health complaints. Show concern, but avoid fostering
dependency.
-Conversion Disorder
Definition
Common Signs and Symptoms - -Medical disorder (objective) that cannot be
explained.
This disorder presents with one or more symptoms of impaired motor or
sensory function. Findings are incompatible with or an exaggeration of
, recognized neurological conditions and are not better explained by another
mental or medical disorder.
Most common are blindness, deafness, paralysis, inability to talk. Symptoms
are beyond conscious control and are related directly to conflict .
-Conversion Disorder
Nursing Interventions - -Encourage independence in ADL's in a matter of fact
manner.
-Dissociative Disorders
Definition - -A disturbance in the normally well-integrated continuum of
consciousness, memory, identity, and perception.
Dissociation is an unconscious defense mechanism to protect the individual
against overwhelming anxiety related to past trauma, and ranges from minor
to severe in presentation.
Patients with dissociative disorders have intact reality testing, meaning they
are not delusional or hallucinating.
-Dissociative Fugue - -The patient in a fugue state frequently relocates and
assumes a new identity while not recalling previous identity or places
previously inhabited.
The distracters are more consistent with paranoid schizophrenia, generalized
anxiety disorder, or bipolar disorder. Head injury, posttraumatic stress
disorder, or a neurological disorder should also be considered.
-Dissociative Amnesia - -Related to a traumatic incident, and may be
accompanied by a fugue where the patient flees from their normal life to
another location and starts a new life. Gradually over time, memories of the
original life may be triggered. Patients can become confused and
embarrassed when the amnesia subsides and memory returns.
-Dissociative Identity Disorder - -The most severe of the dissociative
disorders. Disruption of identity by two or more distinct personality states.
Involves discontinuity in the sense of self, accompanied by alterations in
affect, behavior, memory, and functioning. Patients lose time, meaning they
do not have memory of periods of time ranging from minutes to weeks.
The patient is often unaware of the other personalities. Each alternate
personality has its own pattern of personality, perception, and memories.
-Body Dysmorphic Disorder
