A 28-Year-Old Medical Student Comes to the Office Due to Anxiety

A 28-year-old medical student comes to the office due to anxiety and trouble concentrating.  He has worked part-time as a volunteer firefighter and reports that he has been struggling to concentrate in class ever since witnessing a child who had been badly burnt pulled out of a house fire 3 weeks ago.  On two occasions the patient began to sweat, shake, and have trouble breathing: "I felt like my head was spinning and had to run out of the classroom to catch my breath."  He also reports having trouble sleeping, being irritable with friends and family, and occasionally feeling like he is in a dream.  The patient says, "Sometimes I'll be sitting in class, and I suddenly feel like I am back in the burning house.  I can smell the fire and see the child."  He has missed almost half of his classes to avoid being in crowded classrooms and has recently quit his volunteer job.  Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A) Acute stress disorder
B) Adjustment disorder
C) Agoraphobia
D) Depersonalization/derealization disorder
E) Panic disorder
F) Post-traumatic stress disorder

Correct Answer:

Verified

Unlock this answer now
Get Access to more Verified Answers free of charge

Access For Free