A nurse is educating a group of nursing students about the pharmacological management of anxiety disorders. The nurse explains that benzodiazepines are often used as second-line agents or as adjuncts to antidepressants for the treatment of anxiety disorders. The nurse further explains that benzodiazepines:

Choice A rationale:

Diazepam - Diazepam is a benzodiazepine commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, but it's not typically considered a first-line agent for panic disorder due to concerns about dependence and withdrawal.

Choice B rationale:

Buspirone - This is the correct answer. Buspirone is often used as a first-line agent for the treatment of panic disorder. It is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic that works by interacting with serotonin and dopamine receptors, providing anxiolytic effects without the risk of significant sedation or dependence.

Choice C rationale:

Fluoxetine - Fluoxetine is an SSRI commonly used to treat depression and some anxiety disorders, including panic disorder. However, it might not be the first-line choice due to its delayed onset of action compared to other treatments.

Choice D rationale:

Pregabalin - Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant used to treat various conditions, including neuropathic pain and generalized anxiety disorder. It may be used in the treatment of panic disorder in some cases, but it's not typically considered a first-line option.

Choice E rationale:

Propranolol - Propranolol is a beta-blocker that can help manage physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and tremors. While it may be used adjunctively in panic disorder treatment, it's not a first-line choice for addressing the core symptoms 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.