Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

A patient with flashbacks and anxiety after a mugging six months ago is most likely diagnosed with which condition?

1. Acute stress disorder

2. Anxiety disorder

3. Major depressive disorder

4. Post-traumatic stress disorder

The correct answer is: Post-traumatic stress disorder

The presence of flashbacks and anxiety following a traumatic event, such as a mugging, aligns with the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms must persist for longer than one month and can include intrusive memories, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and heightened arousal. In this case, the patient has been experiencing symptoms for six months, indicating that the duration has surpassed the threshold for acute stress disorder, which is typically defined as occurring within three days to four weeks after the trauma. Since the symptoms have progressed beyond that timeframe, a diagnosis of PTSD is applicable. Understanding this context is crucial, as acute stress disorder would not fit due to its shorter duration. While general anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder may involve symptoms of anxiety or mood disturbances, they do not specifically account for the flashbacks tied to the traumatic experience, making PTSD the most fitting diagnosis here.