ANSWERS.GRADE A+ ASSURED
A 24-year-old graduate student comes to your office to be tested for sexually transmitted
infections. The medical assistant tells you that the patient was upset when she saw how much she
weighed. On questioning, the patient says that for the past year she has experienced episodes of
uncontrollable eating followed by self-induced vomiting. Her weight is 82 kg (181 lb) and her
BMI is 32 kg/m2. Which one of the following is true regarding treatment for this condition?
A. Cognitive behavioral therapy has the best evidence for treatment
B. SSRI monotherapy is a first-line treatment option
C. Anemia is an indication for hospitalization
D. More than half of patients will relapse after treatment - (Correct Answer)-ANSWER: A
Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, and the
DSM-5 added avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, rumination disorder, and pica to this
group in 2014. Mood disorders, anxiety, substance use, and personality or somatic disorders are
common in these patients. Screening can include regularly asking questions about mood, body
image concerns, and eating behaviors. Before establishing the diagnosis based on history, it is
important to perform a physical examination that includes measurement of orthostatic vital signs
and obtain a metabolic panel that includes magnesium and phosphate levels.
This patient appears to have bulimia nervosa, which consists of eating an excessive amount of
food in a short period of time (often >2000 calories in one sitting), with a concomitant feeling of
loss of control. Because patients with bulimia base their self-worth on their body shape and
weight, they follow this binge eating with compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such
as vomiting, laxative use, food restriction, excessive exercise, or taking diuretics. Episodes
occur, on average, one or more times a week for 3 months or longer, and the disorder is
associated with a two- to sixfold increase in age-adjusted mortality.
After the diagnosis is established and a goal weight has been accepted, the patient is best served
with treatment delivered by a team that includes a therapist, a nutritionist, and a clinician,
preferably with each having prior experience in caring for patients with eating disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has the best evidence for treatment of adults with bulimia,
while family-based therapy is the first-line treatment for adolescents with this condition. Early
behavioral response, with rapidly declining episodes of binge eating, is associat
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A 35-year-old female presents to your office for treatment of insomnia. You ask if she has
experienced any trauma in her life and she discloses that she was sexually assaulted 6 weeks ago.
She has not sought medical, legal, or psychological counseling since the assault. During today's
visit, you should do which one of the following?
A. Assess for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
B. Prescribe levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step), 1.5 mg
C. Prescribe HIV postexposure prophylaxis
D. Perform a forensic examination to collect evidence, such as a rape kit evaluation
E. Refer her for cognitive behavioral therapy - (Correct Answer)-ANSWER: A
Sexual assault affects 43.6% of women in the United States during their lifetimes, with increased
risks seen in adolescents, college students, LGBTQ persons, and active-duty military personnel.
The risk is also increased by physical or mental disabilities, poverty, homelessness, incarceration,
and substance use disorders. The majority of assaults are committed by someone known to the
victim, and assaults are often unreported. It has been estimated that only 16%-38% of victims
seek help from law enforcement or obtain a medical evaluation.Both short- and long-term
consequences can occur after sexual assault. Short-term consequences include physical injuries,
unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (most commonly Chlamydia,
gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis). Over time, additional sequelae may include chronic pelvic pain,
headaches, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain syndromes, and irritable bowel syndrome. The
most common long-term consequence is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while other
psychological sequelae include insomnia, depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, eating
disorders, and suicidality.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends screening all women for
sexual violence, while the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends intimate partner
violence (IPV) screening for women of reproductive age. Most women will not disclose IPV or
sexual violence unless asked, and a validated two-question screening tool can be most easily
incorporated into a primary care practice: "Have you ever been hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise
hurt by your partner? Have you ever been forced to participate in sexual activities?"This patient
should have a urine pregnancy test and be tested for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis,
syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Blood shoul
You are developing a practice improvement activity in your office centered on substance use
disorder (SUD). As part of the training for your clinical staff, you plan to review a variety of
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clinical vignettes of patients with SUD. One of your goals is to illustrate how SUD has different
clinical presentations in women and men. Which one of the following statements is accurate
regarding these differences?
A. Compared to men, women have a quicker progression from first using a substance to
developing dependence
B. Compared to men, women with SUD have less severe adverse consequences
C. Smaller quantities of drug consumption are associated with development of SUD among men
compared to women
D. Women are less likely to relapse after treatment than men - (Correct Answer)-ANSWER: A
Substance use disorder (SUD) in women is often associated with more severe adverse medical,
psychiatric, and functional consequences than in men, often related to the interacting
contributions of biological and environmental factors. Physiologically, women with SUD have
variation in cravings and drug consumption at different times of the menstrual cycle. There is
also evidence that women metabolize nicotine more rapidly than men, making it harder for them
to quit using nicotine-containing products. This differential metabolism is a possible reason that
nicotine replacement therapies are less efficacious in women.
Environmentally, women often attribute their substance use to different reasons than men,
including self-treatment of mental health problems, management of chronic pain, and controlling
weight. Use of smaller quantities of drugs and a shorter time progression from initial use to
dependence are both more likely among women with SUD. Treatment outcomes are not
substantially different by sex, but women are more likely to relapse after treatment.
A 23-year-old patient comes to your office 4 weeks after the uncomplicated vaginal birth of her
first child, and reports that she feels tired all the time. On further questioning, she describes
significant emotional lability during the first week after delivery. She has continued to have a
low mood most days and worries about her ability to care for her child. She reports no personal
or family history of depressive illness. Her infant is feeding and growing well, and now requires
only one nighttime feeding. Which one of the following would be most appropriate at this point?
A. Reassurance that the problem will most likely be resolved within 4 weeks
B. Reassurance that this condition is unlikely to recur in subsequent pregnancies
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C. Appropriate screening for underlying medical conditions, including a urinalysis and an
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
D. Avoiding pharmacologic therapy because she is breastfeeding
E. Rec - (Correct Answer)-ANSWER: E
Postpartum depression is relatively common and occurs in up to one in seven women. Untreated,
it is associated with significant maternal and neonatal mortality. It is disruptive to the family, and
it can lead to a higher risk for paternal depression, marital discord, family violence, substance
use and abuse, child abuse and neglect, failure to implement child safety and preventive
measures, and poorer management of chronic health conditions in children. Postpartum
depression is associated with both the early cessation of breastfeeding and reduced maternal-
infant engagement, which can both have an adverse effect on infant development. Consequences
of maternal depression include negative effects on cognitive development, social-emotional
development, and behavior of the child.
Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish postpartum depression from "baby blues," a period of
increased emotional lability, irritability, and fatigue that can begin in the first 24-48 hours post
partum, has limited impact on functioning, and usually disappears within 2 weeks. Symptoms
that persist beyond 2 weeks, including depressed mood, lack of pleasure, sleep disturbance,
diminished concentration, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, loss of energy, or thoughts of death
or suicide, are consistent with the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for major depression. Women with a
prior history of treated depression have a recurrence rate of more than 30% and these women
should undergo preventive counseling as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF).
During the postpartum period, complications of pregnancy and common medical conditions can
create symptoms similar to those of depression. Screening for anemia and thyroid disease is
appropriate because they are often seen in the postpartum period. Screening tests should inclu
At a well woman visit, a 46-year-old female mentions that she is no longer interested in having
sex with her husband. She reports that her relationship with her husband is good, their
communication is excellent, and he is empathetic about her change in sexual interest. She says
that she cannot understand why this is occurring, but that these feelings have been consistently
present over the last 10 months. She does not have any symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Further sexual history indicates that sex is not painful and lubrication is adequate. A physical
examination is normal. Laboratory findings, including a metabolic panel and thyroid studies, are