Psychiatry

Answer 7 Major depression. This case illustrates the importance of not relying solely on a patient’s terminology and the necessity of completing a thorough evaluation. While this patient reports “anxiety attacks,” these episodes actually include only 1 symptom (feeling shaky) included in the DSM-IV-TR criteria for panic disorder.1 In contrast, her symptoms (ie, anhedonia, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, anorexia, difficulty concentrating) meet criteria for major depressive disorder. This patient’s symptoms do not meet the duration criteria for either GAD or dysthymic disorder.1 REFERENCE 1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed., text revision. Washington (DC): The Association; 2000. Click here to return to the questions

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