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Possible Causes of Anxiety*
Medical Problem
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Examples
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*Adapted from Massie.[5]
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Poorly controlled pain |
Insufficient or as-needed pain medications. |
Abnormal metabolic states |
Hypoxia, pulmonary embolus, sepsis, delirium, hypoglycemia, bleeding coronary occlusion, or heart failure. |
Hormone-secreting tumors |
Pheochromocytoma, thyroid adenoma or carcinoma, parathyroid adenoma, corticotropin-producing tumors, and insulinoma. |
Anxiety-producing drugs |
Corticosteroids, neuroleptics used as antiemetics, thyroxine, bronchodilators, beta-adrenergic stimulants, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines (paradoxical reactions are often seen in older persons). |
Anxiety-producing conditions |
Substance withdrawal (from alcohol, opioids, or sedative-hypnotics). |
References
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Massie MJ: Anxiety, panic, and phobias. In: Holland JC, Rowland JH, eds.: Handbook of Psychooncology: Psychological Care of the Patient With Cancer. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1989, pp 300-9.
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