CRACKCast E112 – Anxiety Disorders

This episode covers Chapter 102 of Rosen's Emergency Medicine (9th Ed.), Anxiety Disorders.

Episode Overview

• Patients who present with predominant symptoms of anxiety may be suffering from medical disorders (think cardiac, resp, endocrine, neurologic), medication effects, or substance abuse or withdrawal.
• Anxiety may accompany the onset of serious medical disease, cause significant metabolic demands, and stress a marginally compensated organ system.
• Anxiety caused by physical illness is usually suggested by the patient's physical findings but may require testing to further delineate the cause.
• Oral, intravenous, or intramuscular medication may be necessary for patients who are a significant threat to themselves or others and for anxious patients with significant medical illness.
• Limited benzodiazepine therapy may be helpful for select patients. SSRI's are the go-to long term therapy.

Core questions:

1. List 5 predictors of anxiety caused by an underlying medical issue (box)
2. List 10 organic diseases that may present with anxiety
3. Name 10 characteristics of a panic attack (box)
4. List characteristics of post-traumatic stress disorder (box)
5. Define the following:
   1. Panic attack
   2. OCD
   3. GAD
6. List ED management goals for patients with anxiety
7. List 6 non-pharmacologic therapies for anxiety