BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025
Mental Health Nursing
Medium
Which of the following is NOT a typical symptom of somatoform autonomic disorder?
Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025
Explanation
- Hallucinations are false sensory perceptions experienced without any real external stimulus. For example, hearing voices when no one is speaking.
- These are hallmark symptoms of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, or can occur in severe mood disorders, substance withdrawal, or certain neurological conditions.
- Somatoform autonomic disorder, by definition, involves physical symptoms arising from the autonomic nervous system, not perceptual disturbances like hallucinations.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Palpitations, the sensation of a rapid, fluttering, or pounding heart, are a classic symptom of autonomic nervous system arousal and are frequently reported in somatoform autonomic disorder, often related to the cardiovascular system.
- Option B: Chest pain is a common somatic complaint. In the absence of a cardiac cause, it can be a primary symptom of somatoform autonomic disorder, attributed by the patient to their heart.
- Option C: Sweating, especially when not caused by heat or exertion, is a sign of sympathetic nervous system activation, which is a core component of the autonomic dysfunction seen in this disorder.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Knowing Symptoms of Somatoform Autonomic Disorder helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
- Nurses must conduct a thorough physical assessment and history to help rule out any underlying medical condition causing the symptoms before a diagnosis of a somatoform disorder is considered. This is a critical patient safety step.
- Differentiating between a somatic symptom and a psychotic symptom is fundamental, as the care pathways are entirely different. Somatoform disorders are often managed with psychotherapy (like CBT) and stress reduction, whereas psychotic disorders require antipsychotic medications.
- What if? If a patient reported both chest pain and auditory hallucinations, the clinical focus would immediately shift. The hallucinations would be prioritized as a sign of potential psychosis, and an urgent psychiatric evaluation would be necessary. The chest pain might be considered a co-occurring anxiety symptom secondary to the psychosis.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the keywords in the question: "NOT" and "somatoform autonomic disorder". The word "NOT" indicates you are looking for the exception.
- Define the core concept: Somatoform autonomic disorder involves physical symptoms caused by the autonomic nervous system (e.g., heart rate, breathing, digestion, sweating).
- Evaluate each option against this definition:
- Palpitations: Relates to the heart, an autonomic function. This fits.
- Chest pain: Can be related to the heart or respiratory system, both influenced by the autonomic nervous system. This fits.
- Sweating: A direct function of the autonomic nervous system. This fits.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Symptoms of Somatoform Autonomic Disorder
- Stem keywords: somatoform autonomic disorder, symptom
- Lead-in keywords: NOT
- Negative lead-in flag: Question asks to identify the option that is NOT a symptom.
Question ID
QKW2EK_nV3WuAi23NPCOos
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 7333-7335, 3821-3823
E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 475-477
Practise the full BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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