Carol walked into the exam room and saw the new patient, Tracey, sitting on the edge of the exam table. Tracey had just recently been diagnosed with cancer and was here for her initial meeting with the oncologist. Tracey appeared very small. Her shoulders were hunched forward, her face was flushed, and her voice shook when she spoke. When Carol asked Tracey to complete the Distress Thermometer, Tracey marked her anxiety as a 10 out of 10, the worst it could be. Carol noticed that Tracey already had a prescription for medication to help with anxiety, and when she asked Tracey how long she had been on the medication, Tracey said, "For years." Tracey most likely has ________________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tracey's long-term use of medication for anxiety, as indicated by her statement "For years," suggests that her anxiety is not solely due to her recent cancer diagnosis (which would be situational) but is part of a longer-standing psychiatric condition. This is why psychiatric anxiety is the most likely answer.

Carol Walked into the Exam Room and Saw the New