Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

A neighbor quit her job due to chronic headaches and fatigue caused by harassment. What disorder is the neighbor likely experiencing?

1. Generalized anxiety disorder.

2. Panic disorder.

3. Somatoform disorder.

4. Schizophrenia.

The correct answer is: Somatoform disorder.

The neighbor is likely experiencing somatoform disorder, which is characterized by the presence of physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition. In this case, the chronic headaches and fatigue stemming from harassment suggest a psychological basis for these symptoms. Somatoform disorders often involve interpreting psychological distress as physical symptoms. The stress and trauma from harassment can manifest in physical ways, leading the individual to express pain or discomfort as a way to cope with the emotional turmoil. Understanding this connection between psychological factors and physical symptoms is essential for recognizing the nature of somatoform disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder typically involves excessive worry and anxiety about various aspects of life, but it doesn't primarily manifest through physical symptoms like headaches. Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and intense attacks of anxiety, often accompanied by physical symptoms, but it does not usually result in prolonged physical complaints like chronic headaches or fatigue. Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition marked by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, and sense of self, which is not relevant to the chronic headaches and fatigue caused by external stressors such as harassment.