Question

A woman worries persistently that her son is suffering from a chronic illness. The paediatrician examines the child and gives him a clean bill of health. The woman has sleepless nights about paying the medical bills. She cannot concentrate at work because of her preoccupation with her circumstances. What condition is she likely experiencing?

a) Generalized anxiety disorder
b) Hypochondriasis
c) Panic disorder
d) Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Answer 1

The woman is likely experiencing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, including health and financial concerns, lasting for several months.

Step-by-step explanation:

The condition that the woman is likely experiencing is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This disorder is characterized by feelings of worry and fearfulness that last for months at a time, affecting a person's ability to function normally in daily life. The persistent worry about her son's health despite a clean bill of health from the pediatrician, along with the sleepless nights and inability to concentrate at work, are typical symptoms of GAD. This stands in contrast to hypochondriasis, which is an obsessive preoccupation with the idea of having a serious but undiagnosed medical condition, and does not typically include worries about other areas such as finance. Furthermore, her condition is not aligned with panic disorder, which involves sudden and intense periods of fear or discomfort, nor obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which includes recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).