Topic module

Anxiety, Substance Use and Eating Disorders

Assess anxiety-spectrum illness, harmful substance use, withdrawal and eating disorders with physical-risk awareness.

Long-form learning

Concept to Risk to Memory to Check-up

Practise recognising the immediate clinical task, ruling in or out dangerous alternatives, choosing the safest next step and closing the loop.

Core concepts

Concept 1

Mental-health symptoms require assessment of physical mimics, functional effect and immediate risk.

Exam cue: Ask what medical instability must be checked now.

Concept 2

Withdrawal and eating disorders can produce life-threatening physiological disturbance.

Exam cue: Use non-stigmatising language and shared planning.

Risk pitfalls and guardrails

Calling palpitations anxiety before excluding relevant physical causes.

Guardrail: Avoid an option that names a plausible diagnosis but ignores physiology, contraindications, competence, patient priorities or follow-up.

Missing refeeding or withdrawal risk.

Guardrail: Avoid an option that names a plausible diagnosis but ignores physiology, contraindications, competence, patient priorities or follow-up.

Memory anchors

What precedes an anxiety diagnosis?

History, examination and proportionate exclusion of physical or substance-related causes.

What makes alcohol withdrawal dangerous?

Autonomic instability, seizures, hallucinations or delirium require urgent treatment and monitoring.

What belongs in substance-use assessment?

Substance, amount, pattern, dependence, withdrawal, harm, motivation, risk and safeguarding.

What makes an eating disorder medically urgent?

Physiological instability, major electrolyte disturbance, rapid loss or high behavioural risk.

What supports sustained recovery?

Collaborative goals, evidence-based treatment, physical monitoring and coordinated follow-up.

Checkpoint rule

Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.

Knowledge Check (after reading)

Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.

1-2 question checkpoint

A patient has palpitations and fear but also exertional syncope and a family history of sudden death. What is the priority?

A patient has recurrent unexpected panic attacks and avoids travel for fear of another. What treatment is appropriate?

Answer all questions to submit.

Next step personalized recommendations

Move forward only after this module is stable.

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