A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
- Inspection (viewing).
- Inspection and palpation (palpation) of the thyroid gland [due todifferential diagnosis: hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism)].
- Auscultation (listening) of the heart [palpitations].
- Auscultation of the lungs
- Palpation of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knocking pain?)
- Psychiatric examination [due todifferential diagnoses:
- Depression
- Organic related anxiety disorders
- Personality disorder
- Primary anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia (claustrophobia).
- Psychiatric anxiety disorders
- Addictive disorders, especially alcohol dependence]
[due topossible secondary diseases:
- Other anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Social withdrawal up to loneliness
- Addictive disorders]
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.