Anxiety Dxs

Question 1

phobias are co-morbid with?

Answer 1

substance related disorder (1/3),

1/3 also have major depression

Question 2

genetics of phobias

Answer 2

fear of seeing blood can run in families. first degree relatives of patients with social phobia are three times more likely to get it.

Question 3

treatment for specific phobia vs. treatment for social phobia

Answer 3

specific: no pharm, systemic desensitization and supportive psychotherapy.
social: Paxil is approved for social anxiety, beta blockers for sxs of performance anxiety.

Question 4

how to be diagnosed with acute stress disorder

Answer 4

patients who experience a major traumatic event. sxs occur within 1 month of event and last a maximum of one month. sxs similar to PTSD.

Question 5

adjustment disorder vs. acute stress disorder

Answer 5

ASD= life threatening event. adjustment disorder is not anxiety disordered they occur after a stressful non life threatening event.

Question 6

criteria for diagnosis of adjustment disorder

Answer 6

non life threatening event. sxs begin within 3 months after events and end within 6 months. cause significant impairment in daily functioning or interpersonal relationships. sxs greater than those of bereavement.

Question 7

can adjustment disorder be chronic?

Answer 7

yes- if stressor is recurrent

Question 8

how to treat adjustment disorder

Answer 8

supportive psychotherapy, group therapy, pharmacotherapy for associated sxs- insomnia, anxiety, or depression

Question 9

medical/substance to rule our in anxiety disorders

Answer 9

medical conditions like hyperthyroidism. ask about caffeine intake.

Question 10

neurotransmitter imbalances in anxiety disorders

Answer 10

increased activity of norepinephrine and decreased activity of GABA and serotonin

Question 11

adjustment disorder versus bereavement

Answer 11

Normal grief= guilt, sadness, sleep disturbance, illusions, attempts to resume daily activities/work, sxs that resolve within 1 year (worst sxs at 2 months).
adjustment disorder= not bereavement. sxs resolve after 6 months after stressor has been terminated.

Question 12

subtypes of adjustment disorder

Answer 12

either depressed mood,
anxiety,
disturbance of conduct (such aggression), or combinations of the above

Question 13

medical causes of anxiety

Answer 13

hyperthyroid, b12 deficiency, hypoxia, epilepsy, brain tumors, MS, cardiovascular disease, pheochromocytoma, hypoglycemia

Question 14

medication or substance induced anxiety disorders

Answer 14

caffeine intake and withdrawal, amphetamines, alcohol and sedative hypnotics, mercury or arsenic poisoning, penicillin, sulfonamides, sympathomimetics, antidepressants

Question 15

the rate of OCD is higher in patients who have 1st degree relatives with…

Answer 15

tourettes disorder

Question 16

neurochemical etiology of OCD

Answer 16

abnromal regulation of serotonin

Question 17

relative dose treatment for OCD

Answer 17

high doses of SSRI