Pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders — MCQs

A 42-year-old man comes to the emergency department complaining of chest pain. He states that he was at the grocery store when he developed severe, burning chest pain along with palpitations and nausea. He screamed for someone to call an ambulance. He says this has happened before, including at least 4 episodes in the past month that were all in different locations including once at home. He is worried that it could happen at work and affect his employment status. He has no significant past medical history, and reports that he does not like taking medications. He has had trouble in the past with compliance due to side effects. The patient’s temperature is 98.9°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 133/74 mmHg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 20/min with an oxygen saturation of 99% on room air. On physical examination, the patient is tremulous and diaphoretic. He continually asks to be put on oxygen and something for his pain. An electrocardiogram is obtained that shows tachycardia. Initial troponin level is negative. A urine drug screen is negative. Thyroid stimulating hormone and free T4 levels are normal. Which of the following is first line therapy for the patient for long-term management?

A 27-year-old woman presents to the psychiatrist due to feelings of sadness for the past 3 weeks. She was let go from her job 1 month ago, and she feels as though her whole life is coming to an end. She is unable to sleep well at night and also finds herself crying at times during the day. She has not been able to eat well and has been losing weight as a result. She has no will to go out and meet with her friends, who have been extremely supportive during this time. Her doctor gives her an antidepressant which blocks the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine to help with these symptoms. One week later, she is brought to the emergency room by her friends who say that she was found to be in a state of euphoria. They mention bizarre behavior, one of which is booking a plane ticket to New York, even though she has 3 interviews lined up the same week. Her words cannot be understood as she is speaking very fast, and she is unable to sit in one place for the examination. Which of the following was most likely prescribed by her psychiatrist?

An 8-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents 30 minutes after losing consciousness. He was at a water park with his family when he fell to the ground and started to have jerking movements of the arms and legs. On arrival, he continues to have generalized, violent muscle contractions and is unresponsive to verbal and painful stimuli. The emergency department physician administers lorazepam. The expected beneficial effect of this drug is most likely caused by which of the following mechanisms?

Please refer to the summary above to answer this question Which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy? Patient Information Age: 30 years Gender: F, self-identified Ethnicity: unspecified Site of Care: office History Reason for Visit/Chief Concern: "I'm so anxious about work." History of Present Illness: 7-month history of sensation that her heart is racing whenever she gives oral presentations at work she has also had moderate axillary sweating during these presentations and feels more anxious and embarrassed when this happens feels otherwise fine when she is interacting with her colleagues more casually around the workplace Past Medical History: alcohol use disorder, now abstinent for the past 2 years acute appendicitis, treated with appendectomy 5 years ago verrucae planae Medications: disulfiram, folic acid, topical salicylic acid Allergies: no known drug allergies Psychosocial History: does not smoke, drink alcohol, or use illicit drugs Physical Examination Temp Pulse Resp BP O2 Sat Ht Wt BMI 36.7°C (98°F) 82/min 18/min 115/72 mm Hg – 171 cm (5 ft 7 in) 58 kg (128 lb) 20 kg/m2 Appearance: no acute distress Pulmonary: clear to auscultation Cardiac: regular rate and rhythm; normal S1 and S2; no murmurs Abdominal: has well-healed laparotomy port scars; no tenderness, guarding, masses, bruits, or hepatosplenomegaly Extremities: no tenderness to palpation, stiffness, or swelling of the joints; no edema Skin: warm and dry; there are several skin-colored, flat-topped papules on the dorsal bilateral hands Neurologic: alert and oriented; cranial nerves grossly intact; no focal neurologic deficits Psychiatric: describes her mood as "okay"; speech has a rapid rate but normal rhythm; thought process is organized

A 33-year-old woman presents with lethargy and neck pain. She says that, for the past 6 months, she has been feeling tired all the time and has noticed a lot of muscle tension around the base of her neck. She also says she finds herself constantly worrying about everything, such as if her registered mail would reach family and friends in time for the holidays or if the children got their nightly bath while she was away over the weekend. She says that this worrying has prevented her from sleeping at night and has made her more irritable and edgy with her family and friends. Which of the following is the best course of treatment for this patient?

A 45-year-old man has a history of smoking 1 pack per day and drinking a six-pack of beer daily over the last ten years. He is admitted to the medical floor after undergoing a cholecystectomy. One day after the surgery, the patient states that he feels anxious and that his hands are shaking. While being checked for a clean surgical site, the patient starts shaking vigorously and loses consciousness. The patient groans and falls to the floor. His arms and legs begin to jerk rapidly and rhythmically. This episode lasts for almost five minutes, and the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation are stabilized per seizure protocol. What is the best next step for this patient?

A 30-year-old woman presents to her family doctor requesting sleeping pills. She is a graduate student and confesses that she is a “worry-a-holic,” which has been getting worse for the last 6 months as the due date for her final paper is approaching. During this time, she feels more on edge, irritable, and is having difficulty sleeping. She has already tried employing good sleep hygiene practices, including a switch to non-caffeinated coffee. Her past medical history is significant for depression in the past that was managed medically. No current medications. The patient’s family history is significant for her mother who has a panic disorder. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination reveals a mildly anxious patient but is otherwise normal. Which of the following is the most effective treatment for this patient’s condition?

A 28-year-old medical student presents to the student health center with the complaint being unable to sleep. Although he is a very successful student, over the past few months he has become increasingly preoccupied with failing. The patient states that he wakes up 10-15 times per night to check his textbooks for factual recall. He has tried unsuccessfully to suppress these thoughts and actions, and he has become extremely anxious and sleep-deprived. He has no past medical history and family history is significant for a parent with Tourette's syndrome. He is started on cognitive behavioral therapy. He is also started on a first-line medication for his disorder, but after eight weeks of use, it is still ineffective. What drug, if added to his current regimen, may help improve his symptoms?

A 35-year-old woman presents to clinic in emotional distress. She states she has been unhappy for the past couple of months and is having problems with her sleep and appetite. Additionally, she reports significant anxiety regarding thoughts of dirtiness around the house. She states that she cleans all of the doorknobs 5-10 times per day and that, despite her actions, the stress related to cleaning is becoming worse. What is this patient's 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?