Generalized anxiety disorder — MCQs

A 35-year-old man with no past medical history presents to his primary care physician with complaints of fatigue. He states that his life has been hectic lately and that everything seems to be falling apart. He is scared that he will lose his job, that his wife will leave him, and that his children will not be able to afford to go to college. His worries are severe enough that they have begun to interfere with his daily activities. His wife is also present and states that he has a very secure job and that they are well off financially. She says that he has always worried about something since she met him years ago. What medication would benefit this patient long term?

A previously healthy 25-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 1-month history of palpitations that occur on minimal exertion and sometimes at rest. She has no chest discomfort or shortness of breath. She feels nervous and irritable most of the time and attributes these feelings to her boyfriend leaving her 2 months ago. Since then she has started exercising more frequently and taking an herbal weight-loss pill, since which she has lost 6.8 kg (15 lb) of weight. She finds it hard to fall asleep and awakens 1 hour before the alarm goes off each morning. She has been drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily for the past 7 years and has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for the past 3 years. Her temperature is 37.4°C (99.4°F), pulse is 110/min, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 150/70 mm Hg. Examination shows moist palms. Neurologic examination shows a fine resting tremor of the hands. Deep tendon reflexes are 3+ with a shortened relaxation phase. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

A 27-year-old man presents to his primary care physician with concerns about poor sleep quality. The patient states that he often has trouble falling asleep and that it is negatively affecting his studies. He is nervous that he is going to fail out of graduate school. He states that he recently performed poorly at a lab meeting where he had to present his research. This has been a recurrent issue for the patient any time he has had to present in front of groups. Additionally, the patient is concerned that his girlfriend is going to leave him and feels the relationship is failing. The patient has a past medical history of irritable bowel syndrome for which he takes fiber supplements. His temperature is 98.9°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 117/68 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, respirations are 12/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical exam is within normal limits. Which of the following is the best initial step in management?

A 24-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 1-year history of intermittent episodes of shortness of breath, chest tightness, palpitation, dizziness, sweaty hands, and a feeling of impending doom. She says that her symptoms occur when she goes for a walk or waits in line for coffee. She reports that she no longer leaves the house by herself because she is afraid of being alone when her symptoms occur. She only goes out when her boyfriend accompanies her. She does not smoke or use illicit drugs. Within a few hours after each episode, physical examination and laboratory studies have shown no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 42-year-old female complains of feeling anxious and worrying about nearly every aspect of her daily life. She cannot identify a specific cause for these symptoms and admits that this tension is accompanied by tiredness and difficulty falling asleep. To treat this problem, the patient is prescribed sertraline. She endorses a mild improvement with this medication, and over the next several months, her dose is increased to the maximum allowed dose with modest improvement. Her psychiatrist adds an adjunctive treatment, a medication which notably lacks any anticonvulsant or muscle relaxant properties. This drug most likely acts at which of the following receptors?

A 45-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician with complaints of muscle pains, poor sleep, and daytime fatigue. When asked about stressors she states that she "panics" about her job, marriage, children, and finances. When asked to clarify what the "panics" entail, she states that it involves severe worrying. She has had these symptoms since she last saw you one year ago. What is the most likely diagnosis?

An 8-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her parents because of difficulty sleeping. One to two times per week for the past 2 months, she has woken up frightened in the middle of the night, yelling and crying. She has not seemed confused after waking up, and she is consolable and able to fall back asleep in her parents' bed. The following day, she seems more tired than usual at school. She recalls that she had a bad dream and looks for ways to delay bedtime in the evenings. She has met all her developmental milestones to date. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 36-year-old woman comes to the physician because of an 8-month history of occasional tremor. The tremor is accompanied by sudden restlessness and nausea, which disrupts her daily work as a professional violinist. The symptoms worsen shortly before upcoming concerts but also appear when she goes for a walk in the city. She is concerned that she might have a neurological illness and have to give up her career. The patient experiences difficulty falling asleep because she cannot stop worrying that a burglar might break into her house. Her appetite is good. She drinks one glass of wine before performances "to calm her nerves" and otherwise drinks 2–3 glasses of wine per week. The patient takes daily multivitamins as prescribed. She appears nervous. Her temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F), pulse is 92/min, and blood pressure is 135/80 mm Hg. Mental status examination shows a full range of affect. On examination, a fine tremor on both hands is noted. She exhibits muscle tension. The remainder of the neurological exam shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this patient's symptoms?

A 26-year-old woman presents to the office complaining of bloating and consistent fatigue. Past medical notes on her record show that she has seen several doctors at the clinic in the past year for the same concerns. During the discussion, she admits that coming to the doctor intensifies her anxiety and she does not enjoy it. However, she came because she fears that she has colon cancer and says, “There’s gotta be something wrong with me, I can feel it.” Past medical history is significant for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She sees a therapist a few times a month. Her grandfather died of colon cancer at 75. Today, her blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, heart rate is 90/min, respiratory rate is 18/min, and temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F). Physical examination reveals a well-nourished, well-developed woman who appears anxious and tired. Her heart has a regular rhythm and her lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. Her abdomen is soft, non-tender, and non-distended. No masses are palpated, and a digital rectal examination is unremarkable. Laboratory results are as follows: Serum chemistry Hemoglobin 13 g/dL Hematocrit 38% MCV 90 fl TSH 4.1 μU/mL Fecal occult blood test negative Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 37-year-old man comes to the emergency department with his wife because of a 3-day history of severe pain in his right arm. He also reports that he cannot move his right arm. The symptoms began after the patient woke up one morning, having slept on his side. He is otherwise healthy. He works as a waiter and says that he feels exhausted from working several night shifts per week. He adds that he “can barely keep his eyes open” when looking after their daughter the next day. Since the onset of the pain, he has been unable to work and is fully dependent on his wife, who took an extra shift to make enough money to pay their monthly bills. The patient appears relaxed but only allows himself to be examined after his wife convinces him. His vital signs are within normal limits. Examination shows 1/5 muscle strength in the right arm. Reflexes are normal. He has no sensation to light touch over the entire right arm and forearm. When a pin prick test is conducted, the patient rapidly withdraws the right arm. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?