Question

Patient presents to PMD thinking he has contracted infectious disease. Constant worrying, interferes with work, repetitively counts to 100 to distract from worry. No drug or past psych/med hx. What section on PET will have increased activity?

Answer 1

A PET scan of a patient with symptoms of an anxiety disorder such as OCD would likely reveal increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and anterior cingulate cortex.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to which section of the brain will show increased activity in a PET scan for a patient presenting symptoms of constant worrying, interference with work, and repetitive behaviors such as counting to 100. These symptoms are suggestive of an anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In the case of OCD, a condition characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions), increased activity is typically seen in the frontal lobes, particularly in the orbitofrontal cortex, as well as areas of the brain associated with habit formation, such as the basal ganglia and the anterior cingulate cortex. A PET scan would be helpful in visualizing the metabolic activity in these areas and might show increased glucose metabolism indicative of hyperactivity in these regions associated with the symptomatology.