Barbara is in a car accident and experiences neck pain immediately afterward. Doctors say that any injury to her neck will heal within two weeks of the accident. Nine months later, Barbara begins to visit her doctor weekly, saying the pain is still unbearable and she needs stronger pain medication. What is a reasonable diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the information, the most reasonable diagnosis is somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain (pain disorder). This diagnosis is appropriate because Barbara is experiencing significant pain that is the primary focus of her clinical presentation, and the pain persists well beyond any expected period of healing, indicating that the pain might not be fully explained by a medical condition.

Barbara Is in a Car Accident and Experiences Neck Pain