Module IV: Psychiatric Disorders (Depression, Anxiety, Sleep) Discussion
Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed medications for several indications, including anxiety and sleep disorders. Let’s discuss their use in our health care systems and the impact on our patients.
Things to consider might include (just getting you thinking):
Safety: How could the side effect profile affect your patients?
Efficacy: Are benzodiazepines efficacious for anxiety and sleep?
Use: Are they under or over prescribed? How can we ensure safe use of these medications?
Consider the following cases:
KT is a 24 year old female completing her studies. While home for spring break, she presents to her primary care physician because she has been worried about her academic, professional, and personal future since class restarted in late August. She is constantly worried about passing all of her exams and that she is going to be the only one of her friends that graduates school without a ring on her finger.
- How would you help her assuming she meets the criteria for GAD?
- How would you help him assuming he meets the criteria for MDD?
- What non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies would you recommend for JM?