Behavioral Science & Ethics USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 45-year-old woman with a past medical history of major depressive disorder presents to her primary care physician with a 3-month history of fatigue and insomnia. She reports spending 4-5 hours daily researching symptoms online and has become preoccupied with the belief that she has terminal cancer. Physical examination is unremarkable. Laboratory studies including CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel, and thyroid function tests are all within normal limits. Chest radiography is normal. Despite these negative findings, the patient remains convinced she has a serious illness and requests CT imaging of the chest and abdomen. She states her anxiety only temporarily improves after each test result comes back normal. Which of the following best describes her current condition?
Answer choices
- ASomatic symptom disorder with predominant pain
- BIllness anxiety disorderCorrect answer
- CGeneralized anxiety disorder
- DAdjustment disorder with anxiety
- EFactitious disorder imposed on self
- FUnspecified depressive disorder
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