A nurse is caring for a patient with panic disorder. Which of the following medications is often used as a first-line agent for the treatment of panic disorder?

Choice A rationale:

Completely eliminate anxiety symptoms. While this might be an ideal goal, it's not always achievable due to the nature of anxiety disorders. Anxiety is a normal human emotion, and the goal of treatment is to manage it rather than eliminate it completely.

Choice B rationale:

Reduce the severity and frequency of anxiety symptoms. This is the correct goal of pharmacological treatment for anxiety disorders. Complete elimination of anxiety symptoms is often unrealistic, but reducing their severity and frequency can significantly improve the patient's quality of life.

Choice C rationale:

Treat the underlying cause of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. While addressing underlying causes is important, pharmacological treatment primarily aims to manage symptoms rather than target the complex underlying causes.

Choice D rationale:

Prevent comorbidities associated with anxiety disorders. While effective anxiety treatment can potentially prevent some comorbidities, such as depression, the primary focus of pharmacological treatment is directly on managing anxiety symptoms rather than solely preventing associated conditions.

Choice A rationale:

(Correct Choice) Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It helps to increase serotonin levels in the brain, which can alleviate the symptoms of OCD. SSRIs are considered first-line treatments for OCD due to their efficacy and relatively favorable side effect profile.

Choice B rationale:

Clonazepam is not typically used as a first-line treatment for OCD. It is a benzodiazepine that can be helpful for anxiety-related conditions but is not among the primary medications prescribed specifically for OCD.

Choice C rationale:

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant that primarily affects serotonin and norepinephrine levels. While it can be used for conditions like generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, it is not a first-line treatment for OCD.

Choice D rationale:

Buspirone is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder but is not one of the preferred medications for treating OCD. It works differently from SSRIs and does not have the same established evidence base for managing OCD symptoms.

Choice E rationale:

(Correct Choice) Sertraline is another SSRI commonly used in the treatment of OCD. Similar to fluoxetine, sertraline increases serotonin levels, which can help reduce the obsessions and compulsions associated with OCD. Its efficacy and tolerability make it a suitable choice for OCD treatment.