Anxiety: ABFM practice questions

5 board-style questions on anxiety in the PulseMD family medicine question bank — physician-reviewed, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

A 26-year-old woman presents with recurrent episodes of sudden-onset palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, diaphoresis, trembling, and an overwhelming fear of dying. Episodes last 10-15 minutes, occur unpredictably 2-3 times per week, and have occasionally awakened her from sleep. She has visited the emergency department three times in the past month; each time cardiac workup including ECG, troponin, and echocardiography was normal. She has begun avoiding driving alone, grocery stores, and social gatherings for fear of having an episode in public. What is the most appropriate long-term treatment strategy?

  1. Propranolol 20 mg as needed before anticipated anxiety triggers
  2. Gabapentin 300 mg three times daily
  3. Alprazolam 0.5 mg three times daily as maintenance therapy
  4. An SSRI such as sertraline combined with cognitive behavioral therapy

Sample question 2

A 34-year-old woman presents with excessive worry about multiple life domains (work, health, finances) for the past 8 months. She reports muscle tension, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, and irritability. She has tried relaxation techniques with minimal benefit. Her PHQ-9 is 6 (mild) and GAD-7 is 14 (moderate). She has no substance use history. What is the most appropriate first-line pharmacotherapy?

  1. Lorazepam 0.5 mg three times daily
  2. Sertraline 50 mg daily
  3. Propranolol 20 mg three times daily
  4. Hydroxyzine 25 mg three times daily

Create a free PulseMD account to answer these, see the explanations, and practice five minutes a day.

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