Separation anxiety disorder — MCQs

A 34-year-old female presents to a counselor at the urging of her parents because they are concerned that she might be depressed. After recently breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, she moved back in with her parents because she could not handle making decisions alone. Soon after their breakup, she started going on 5–7 dates a week. She has been unemployed for 3 years, as her boyfriend took care of all the bills. In the past year, she thought of looking for a job but never felt confident enough to start the process. Her mom arranges her doctor's appointments and handles her car maintenance. She describes feeling uneasy when she is alone. She has hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine. She does not smoke or drink alcohol. Vital signs are normal. Mental status exam shows a neutral affect. Neurologic examination shows no focal findings. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

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 14-year-old girl presents to the pediatrician for behavior issues. The girl has been having difficulty in school as a result. Every time the girl enters her classroom, she feels the urge to touch every wall before heading to her seat. When asked why she does this, she responds, "I'm not really sure. I just can't stop thinking about it until I have touched each wall." The parents have noticed this behavior occasionally at home but were not concerned. The girl is otherwise healthy, has many friends, eats a balanced diet, does not smoke, and is not sexually active. Her temperature is 98.2°F (36.8°C), blood pressure is 117/74 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, respirations are 15/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical exam is notable for a healthy young girl. Neurologic exam is unremarkable. There is no observed abnormalities in behavior while the girl is in the office. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in management for this patient?

A 28-year-old woman is brought to a counselor by her father after he found out that she is being physically abused by her husband. The father reports that she refuses to end the relationship with her husband despite the physical abuse. She says that she feels uneasy when her husband is not around. She adds, “I'm worried that if I leave him, my life will only get worse.” She has never been employed since they got married because she is convinced that nobody would hire her. Her husband takes care of most household errands and pays all of the bills. Physical examination shows several bruises on the thighs and back. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 35-year-old man comes to the Veterans Affairs hospital because of a 2-month history of anxiety. He recently returned from his third deployment to Iraq, where he served as a combat medic. He has had difficulty readjusting to civilian life. He works as a taxi driver but had to take a leave of absence because of difficulties with driving. Last week, he hit a stop sign because he swerved out of the way of a grocery bag that was in the street. He has difficulty sleeping because of nightmares about the deaths of some of the other soldiers in his unit and states, “it's my fault, I could have saved them. Please help me.” Mental status examination shows a depressed mood and a restricted affect. There is no evidence of suicidal ideation. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in treatment?

A 15-year-old boy is referred to a child psychologist because of worsening behavior and constant disruption in class. He has received multiple reprimands in the past 6 months for not doing the homework his teacher assigned, and he refuses to listen to the classroom instructions. Additionally, his teachers say he is very argumentative and blames other children for not letting him do his work. He was previously well behaved and one of the top students in his class. He denies any recent major life events or changes at home. His past medical history is noncontributory. His vital signs are all within normal limits. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 28-year-old male presents to his primary care physician with complaints of intermittent abdominal pain and alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. His medical chart is not significant for any past medical problems or prior surgeries. He is not prescribed any current medications. Which of the following questions would be the most useful next question in eliciting further history from this patient?

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?