Which statement best explains why repeatedly yielding to a patient's requests can maintain the sick role in hypochondriasis?

Which statement best explains why repeatedly yielding to a patient's requests can maintain the sick role in hypochondriasis?

• A. It reduces anxiety.
• B. It reinforces the sick role.
• C. It improves diagnostic accuracy.
• D. It decreases dependence.

Answer: (B)

Repeatedly yielding to a patient’s requests reinforces the sick role. When care, attention, and relief from responsibilities are provided in response to illness behaviors, the patient learns that being sick gets them rewards, so those behaviors are repeated. Over time this reinforcement sustains hypochondriacal patterns and maintaining illness rather than resolving them. While giving in might feel comforting in the moment, it does not promote diagnosis accuracy and it tends to increase dependence, not decrease it.

Repeatedly yielding to a patient’s requests reinforces the sick role. When care, attention, and relief from responsibilities are provided in response to illness behaviors, the patient learns that being sick gets them rewards, so those behaviors are repeated. Over time this reinforcement sustains hypochondriacal patterns and maintaining illness rather than resolving them.

While giving in might feel comforting in the moment, it does not promote diagnosis accuracy and it tends to increase dependence, not decrease it.