Biology Forums - Study Force

A patient who is also a nurse is being treated for anxiety with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. She asks about the rationale for use of this agent rather than a benzodiazepine. Which of the following is the nurse's best response?
 
  a. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are better for the control of bodily symp-toms than benzodiazepines.
  b. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors provide a more rapid and durable re-sponse to the uncomfortable anxiety symptoms.
  c. Benzodiazepines currently have no role in the treatment of anxiety.
  d. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are better for reducing the cognitive and psychic symptoms of anxiety than benzodiazepines.

D
Compared with benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are better for reducing the cognitive and psychic symptoms of anxiety, but not the somatic symptoms.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are not better than benzodiazepines for reducing somatic symptoms of anxiety.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have a delayed response to uncomfortable anxiety symp-toms.
Benzodiazepines are used in the treatment of anxiety.

;D