Comprehensive exams for Mental Health Q 154
Aldo, with a somatoform pain disorder may obtain secondary gain. Which of the following statements refers to a secondary gain?
A. It brings some stability to the family.
B. It decreases the preoccupation with the physical illness.
C. It enables the client to avoid some unpleasant activity.
D. It promotes emotional support or attention for the client.
Correct Answer: D. It promotes emotional support or attention for the client
Secondary gain refers to the benefits of the illness that allow the client to receive emotional support or attention. Secondary gain refers to the external benefits that may be derived as a result of having symptoms. For example, the patient whose sudden onset of paresis (primary gain) causes his or her spouse to stay in an otherwise failing relationship (secondary gain).
Option A: A dysfunctional family may disregard the real issue, although some conflict is relieved. Patients who experience unexplained physical symptoms often strongly maintain the belief that their symptoms have a physical cause despite evidence to the contrary. These beliefs are based on false interpretation of symptoms. Additionally, patients may minimize the involvement of psychiatric factors in the initiation, maintenance, or exacerbation of their physical symptoms.
Option B: Somatoform pain disorder is a preoccupation with pain in the absence of physical disease. Pain disorder is fairly common. Although the pain is associated with psychological factors at its onset (e.g., unexplained chronic headache that began after a significant stressful life event), its onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance may also be associated with a general medical condition. Pain is the focus of the disorder, but psychological factors are believed to play the primary role in the perception of pain.
Option C: Primary gain enables the client to avoid some unpleasant activity. A decrease in anxiety (gain) from an unconscious defensive operation, which then causes a physical or conversion symptom, e.g. an arm is voluntarily paralyzed because it was used to hurt somebody, thereby allaying guilt and anxiety.