Client #14 (Female, 62 Years Old, Married)

Abstract

Mrs. MK, 62 years old, was referred to the University of Tehran Clinic because of her anxiety attacks started at 25 along with nausea, spasm in the neck and jaw muscles. She had visited a psychiatrist and had received medication for 15 years. She ceased taking medicines 10 years ago, following which the physiological symptoms disappeared. However, the patient developed her new fears that she might, at any moment, have spasm in her neck and jaw muscles. She had severe religious guilt due to the fact that she had done things that were against her religious beliefs in the past. She had serious compulsions with checking the gas valve, door locks and the power button on TV. The anxiety symptoms included checking the possibility of breast cancer daily; extreme fear of getting blood cancer; extreme anxiety over her children’s health and the fear that they may get cancer. The symptoms of compulsions and illness anxiety disorder with respect to her children started 6 years ago. Her symptoms fulfilled the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association in Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), American Psychiatric Publishing, Washington DC, 2013) criteria for OCD and illness anxiety disorder. MK started taking medications again four years ago. At the time of visiting the therapist, she took 10 mg/day Fluoxetine. This is her first visit to receive a psychological treatment. MK was seen for 4 sessions over a period of 7 weeks.