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Zorluk: OrtaAnxiety, OCD, and Trauma-Related Disorders

A 26-year-old woman, G1P0 at 14 weeks gestation, is evaluated in the outpatient psychiatry clinic. Three weeks ago, she was the victim of an armed robbery in a parking garage. Since the incident, she has experienced severe insomnia, recurrent nightmares about the robbery, and feels emotionally detached from her husband. She completely avoids going near parking garages or driving alone. Vital signs are temperature 37.0°C (98.6°F), blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg, pulse 88/min, and respirations 16/min. Recent routine prenatal laboratory studies are unremarkable except for a mild, compensated respiratory alkalosis. When recounting the robbery during the interview, she becomes tearful and visibly distressed. She has a history of bipolar I disorder but discontinued her mood stabilizer prior to conception. She works as a hospital administrator and explicitly asks the physician not to document the visit in her medical record, fearing her employer will find out and terminate her. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

  1. Refer the patient for trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapyCevap
  2. B
    Initiate citalopram monotherapy to manage her trauma-related symptoms
  3. C
    Notify her employer's occupational health department due to potential workplace safety risks
  4. D
    Order a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram to evaluate her respiratory alkalosis
  5. E
    Diagnose brief psychotic disorder and initiate a low-dose atypical antipsychotic

Cevap

The correct intervention is to refer the patient for trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
The patient exhibits classic symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), including intrusive nightmares, avoidance behaviors, negative mood, and arousal occurring 3 weeks after a life-threatening trauma. ASD is distinguished from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) primarily by symptom duration: ASD lasts from 3 days to 1 month, whereas PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist beyond 1 month. The most appropriate first-line intervention for ASD is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This modality is highly effective at minimizing acute distress and significantly reduces the risk of the condition progressing to PTSD. Additionally, non-pharmacological therapies are heavily favored as initial treatment in pregnant patients.

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1
Establish the most likely diagnosis based on the clinical presentation and timeline.
The patient has intrusive symptoms, avoidance, and negative mood lasting for 3 weeks following a severe trauma, which meets the criteria for Acute Stress Disorder (ASD).
Differentiating ASD from PTSD is based on timeline: ASD is diagnosed when symptoms last between 3 days and 1 month, while PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than 1 month.
2
Determine the preferred first-line treatment for ASD.
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the treatment of choice.
Trauma-focused CBT is highly effective at reducing acute symptoms and preventing the subsequent development of PTSD.
3
Evaluate the patient's comorbidities and context against the available management options.
Pregnancy favors non-pharmacologic interventions. The unmedicated bipolar I disorder history strictly contraindicates antidepressant monotherapy. The normal physiologic respiratory alkalosis of pregnancy requires no medical intervention, and confidentiality must be respected.
Integrating multidisciplinary data ensures the selected management step is both safe and ethically sound.

Anahtar Kavram

The first-line treatment for Acute Stress Disorder is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps reduce symptom severity and prevents progression to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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