Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

Which behavioral strategy should be encouraged for a patient with generalized anxiety disorder who shows concern for her children's safety?

1. Avoid anxiety-provoking situations

2. Avoid exposure to catastrophic images

3. Engage in progressive muscle relaxation

4. Engage in repeated checking on children while they sleep

The correct answer is: Engage in progressive muscle relaxation

The correct answer focuses on engaging in progressive muscle relaxation as a beneficial behavioral strategy for a patient with generalized anxiety disorder who is preoccupied with concerns about her children's safety. This technique promotes relaxation, reduces physiological tension, and can help alleviate anxiety symptoms. Progressive muscle relaxation involves systematically tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups throughout the body. This practice encourages mindfulness and awareness of physical sensations and can help individuals recognize and dissipate tension related to anxiety. For someone dealing with generalized anxiety disorder, learning to manage physical symptoms through relaxation can be empowering and reduce the overwhelming feelings of anxiety, enabling them to cope better with distressing thoughts about their children's safety. In contrast, the other choices do not promote healthy coping mechanisms. Avoiding anxiety-provoking situations, for example, may reinforce avoidance behavior and could ultimately worsen anxiety by limiting exposure to necessary daily life experiences. Avoiding exposure to catastrophic images might provide temporary relief but does not equip the patient with skills to cope with anxiety in the long term. Lastly, engaging in repeated checking on children, while seemingly protective, typically perpetuates anxious thoughts and behaviors, leading to increased anxiety rather than helping to alleviate it.