Which prescription medication would the nurse expect to be prescribed for a patient diagnosed with a somatic symptom disorder?
a. Narcotic analgesics for use as needed for acute pain
b. Antidepressant medications to treat underlying depression
c. Long-term use of benzodiazepines to support coping with anxiety
d. Conventional antipsychotic medications to correct cognitive distortions
ANS: B
Various types of antidepressants may be helpful in somatic disorders directly by reducing depressive symptoms and hence somatic responses, but also indirectly by affecting nerve circuits that affect not only mood, but fatigue, pain perception, GI distress, and other somatic symptoms. Patients may benefit from short-term use of anti-anxiety medication (benzodiazepines) but require careful monitoring because of risks of dependence. Conventional antipsychotic medications would not be used, although selected atypical antipsychotics may be useful. Narcotic analgesics are not indicated.
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