Question

A 45-year-old woman presents with a long-standing history of “feeling tensed” along with an upset stomach, diarrhea, and heartburn. She mentions that her family members also experience similar symptoms. Which of the following symptoms is most likely to be observed in this patient?

• A. Neologisms
• B. Tingling at extremities
• C. Hallucinations
• D. Idea of reference

Hint:

In somatic symptom disorders or anxiety, look for physical manifestations like tingling or other somatic complaints without a clear medical cause.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

This patient’s symptoms of chronic anxiety (feeling tense, upset stomach, diarrhea, and heartburn) are indicative of a somatic symptom disorder, in which psychological stress manifests as physical symptoms. The tingling at extremities (also known as paresthesia) is a common somatic manifestation of anxiety, where physical sensations can arise without a clear physical cause.
- Neologisms are made-up words or phrases and are more commonly seen in schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, not in anxiety or somatic disorders.
- Hallucinations are perceptual disturbances typically seen in psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, not in this patient who has no history of psychosis.
- Idea of reference refers to the belief that common elements of the environment are directly related to the individual, which is often seen in paranoid schizophrenia, but is not a typical symptom of anxiety.
Thus, tingling at extremities is the most likely symptom in this patient.