Observations of Pathological Anxiety - Cross-Examination of Psych Doctors, Tip #76

Pathological anxiety can be observed in a variety of ways during a face-to-face interview.  Specifically, pathologically anxious individuals typically can be observed to exhibit a variety of narrative statements that express danger, threat, unpredictability, uncertainty and/or terror.  Moreover, on direct observation their behavior is often characterized by jumpiness, restlessness, hand wringing, a strained voice, tremulousness, tension, motor hyperactivity, fidgeting, autonomic hyperactivity, vigilance, scanning and/or poor reality testing.  In assessing the credibility of a psych report, you should check to see if the doctor provided a description of any such observations or any of the patient’s narrative statements supporting a pathological anxiety in their report.