Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Practice Test

What condition is indicated by irritability, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea, and profuse sweating before a basketball game?

1. Anxiety

2. Bipolar disorder

3. Depression

4. Psychosis

The correct answer is: Anxiety

The symptoms presented—irritability, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea, and profuse sweating—are typically associated with anxiety, particularly in a high-stress situation such as before a basketball game. Anxiety often manifests physically and emotionally, leading to signs of distress like shortness of breath and nausea. The body's fight-or-flight response is triggered, causing an increase in heart rate and perspiration. Irritability can result from overwhelming emotions and the inability to cope with stressors effectively. In contrast, conditions like bipolar disorder and depression have different symptomatology. Bipolar disorder involves mood swings that can include periods of mania or extreme fatigue, which do not align closely with the acute physical symptoms described. Depression is often characterized by persistent sadness or loss of interest rather than the immediate physical stress response. Psychosis entails a disconnection from reality, featuring hallucinations or delusions, which does not correlate with the acute anxiety symptoms observed in this scenario. Thus, the combination of symptoms experienced before a sports event clearly points toward anxiety as the leading condition.