Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy Flashcards
7 cards from real PMH-C practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy flashcards as text
A pregnant woman with panic disorder asks about the risk of neonatal adaptation syndrome if she takes an SSRI. Which symptom cluster is most associated with this syndrome?
Answer: Jitteriness, poor feeding, and transient respiratory distress
Neonatal adaptation syndrome with SSRIs presents as jitteriness, poor feeding, and transient respiratory distress, which is self-limiting and distinct from withdrawal.
Which anxiety disorder is most likely to have its onset triggered specifically by the physiological changes of early pregnancy?
Answer: Panic disorder
The cardiovascular and respiratory changes of early pregnancy (e.g., increased heart rate, shortness of breath) can trigger panic attacks in susceptible individuals, precipitating panic disorder.
What is the primary mechanism by which prenatal maternal anxiety is thought to affect fetal neurodevelopment?
Answer: Glucocorticoid exposure altering fetal HPA axis programming
Maternal cortisol crosses the placenta and is thought to program the fetal HPA axis, increasing the child's later stress reactivity.
A woman at 20 weeks gestation has a history of childhood sexual trauma and presents with hypervigilance, avoidance of prenatal exams, and flashbacks. The most appropriate trauma-informed approach is:
Answer: Coordinate care with a trauma-informed therapist and allow patient control during exams
Trauma-informed care emphasizes patient safety, choice, and collaboration; allowing control during exams and coordinating with therapy is the evidence-based approach.
Which screening tool has been validated specifically to assess anxiety symptoms in the perinatal period and complements the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale?
Answer: Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS)
The PASS (Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale) was developed and validated specifically for perinatal populations to detect a range of anxiety disorders.
A clinician is considering buspirone for a pregnant patient with GAD who cannot tolerate SSRIs. What should the clinician know about buspirone in pregnancy?
Answer: Safety data in human pregnancy is limited and animal studies show some concern
Buspirone has limited human pregnancy safety data; animal studies have shown adverse effects at high doses, so it is used with caution and only when benefits outweigh risks.
When educating a pregnant patient about the risks of untreated versus treated anxiety, which statement is most accurate?
Answer: Untreated severe anxiety carries its own fetal and maternal risks that must be weighed against treatment risks
Shared decision-making requires acknowledging that untreated severe anxiety has documented fetal and maternal risks (e.g., preterm birth, poor self-care) that must be balanced against treatment risks.