The husband of a woman with a somatic symptom illness asks the nurse why the doctors cannot find anything wrong with her. What is the appropriate explanation for the nurse to offer?

Choice A reason: While stress can influence symptom severity, somatic symptom illness is not simply intermittent control. This explanation is incomplete and misleading. Choice B reason: Stating there is a physical cause misinforms the family. Somatic symptom illness is psychological in origin, not undetected physical disease. Choice C reason: Suggesting the client is fabricating symptoms is inaccurate and stigmatizing. The symptoms are real to the client, even if not physically caused. Choice D reason: Mental distress manifests as physical symptoms in somatic symptom illness. The client is not consciously aware of the psychological origin, making this the most accurate and therapeutic explanation.