PMH-C Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy 2

Question 1

A pregnant woman in her third trimester reports persistent worry about fetal well-being, difficulty sleeping, and muscle tension lasting 8 months. Which diagnosis best fits?

Accepted Answer

Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer

GAD requires excessive worry about multiple domains, difficulty controlling the worry, and at least 3 somatic symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbance, muscle tension) persisting ≥6 months.

Question 2

Which fetal outcome has been most consistently associated with untreated severe maternal anxiety during pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Preterm birth

Answer

Robust evidence links severe prenatal anxiety to increased risk of preterm birth, likely mediated by stress hormones and inflammatory pathways.

Question 3

A clinician uses the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) in the first trimester. What score indicates moderate anxiety warranting clinical attention?

Accepted Answer

≥10

Answer

GAD-7 scores of 5, 10, and 15 correspond to mild, moderate, and severe anxiety thresholds; ≥10 indicates moderate severity warranting further evaluation.

Question 4

A woman with pre-existing OCD becomes pregnant and notices contamination obsessions intensifying. What is the recommended first-line pharmacotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Answer

SSRIs remain first-line pharmacotherapy for OCD in pregnancy due to their established safety profile and efficacy.

Question 5

Which cognitive distortion is most characteristic of health anxiety (illness anxiety disorder) in pregnant women?

Accepted Answer

Catastrophic misinterpretation of normal pregnancy symptoms as signs of serious fetal illness

Answer

Illness anxiety disorder is defined by catastrophic misinterpretation of benign bodily sensations as evidence of serious disease.

(PMH-C) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Practice Test

(PMH-C) Perinatal Mental Health Certification Practice Test

PMH-C Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy 2