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hello
Yep, and I think what we are supposed to take from this Q is:
The only info. we have for this patient is that he ended chemo 2 months ago and has been calling the doctor a lot -- this is supposed to mean he has been calling a lot since ending chemo 2 months ago. His frequent calls starting after ending chemo and within 3 months of the stressor fits with the above-stated definition of "adjustment disorder" with anxiety.
I stressor in this case could possibly be either the actual illness or the ending of chemo/treatment. It probably does not matter much in this case.
+7
charcot_bouchard
I think doing uw done me wrong here. Adjustment disorder isnt diagnosed when symptom match another disorder --- it was like never a right answer. But ofc its right answer in nbme
+5
maxillarythirdmolar
Just to add to that, the tingling in his fingers may seem like a distraction/it probably is. Likely has some relation to his Chemo.
+3
j44n
shit I thought this poor guy had OCD with all the repetitive behaviors.
+3
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savdaddy
I think part of it stems from the fact that this patients symptoms are occurring within the time-frame for adjustment disorder while SSD seems to have a longer timeline. Aside from that I find it difficult to see why SSD wasn't a possible answer.
+4
chillqd
To add to that, I inferred that the obsession with checking temp and with the tingling sensation were signs provided to him by the physicians of recurrence. He is anxious over his cancer recurring, and they are more specific than a variety of body complaints
+2
hello
In somatic symptom disorder, the motivation is unconscious. I think for the patient in this Q-stem, his motivation is conscious -- he wants to make sure that recurrence of cancer is not going "undetected".
+19
almondbreeze
@chillqd Same! Why not OCD? He's fearful that something bad might happen (=cancer relapse; obsession) and calling his doc (=compulsion)
+1
kevin
great reasoning @hello, this was confusing me but that makes perfect sense
+1
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j123
Both somatic sx disorder and illness anxiety disorder must be persistent for >6 months. Since this pt has only been acting excessively worried for 2 months, then it would have to be Adjustment disorder with Anxiety. (PS I got this question wrong since I at first thought Somatic Sx disorder)
+3
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hiroshimi
According to DSM-5, with OCD, the disturbance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder such as preoccupation with having an illness, as in illness anxiety disorder.
In his case, he was previously dx with cancer, treated, then develop these anxieties that he may have missed some sign is more fitted with illness anxiety disorder.
Moreover, OCD is characterized by ego-dystonic, which is "thoughts, impulses, and behaviors that are felt to be repugnant, distressing, unacceptable or inconsistent with one's self-concept", which clearly doesn't apply to the pt case, as checking the temperature is actually meaningful and goal-directed.
+1
utap2001
I think the most important hints are stressor and timeframe. I believe the description in the Q stem have some distractor. Maybe the definition of OCD should be no reason. A stressor and <3 month time make adjustment disorder more likely.
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submitted by โhayayah(1212)
Definition of adjustment disorder:
Emotional symptoms (eg, anxiety, depression) that occur within 3 months of an identifiable psychosocial stressor (eg, divorce, illness) lasting < 6 months once the stressor has ended.
If symptoms persist > 6 months after stressor ends, it is GAD.