ABFM Adolescent Medicine case studies
ABFM Adolescent Medicine · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Adolescent Medicine is a subspecialty credential offered by the American Board of Family Medicine in conjunction with the American Boards of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. It recognizes fellowship training and knowledge in the unique physical, psychological, and social characteristics of adolescents and their health care problems and needs. The ABFM Adolescent Medicine case studies are 5 cases and about 2,671 words.
1The 14-Year-Old Who Wants Confidential Contraception
A 14-year-old girl presents alone to your clinic requesting birth control. She is in 9th grade, has been dating a 17-year-old boy for three months, and reports she has been sexually active twice, using condoms inconsistently.
497 words, about 2 min2Chest Pain in a 16-Year-Old Athlete the Week Before Championships
A 16-year-old boy presents with two weeks of intermittent sharp chest pain, worse with deep breathing and when lying flat, occasionally radiating to his left shoulder. He is a competitive swimmer training 2 hours daily, 6 days a week, and has a state qualifying meet in 8 days.
448 words, about 2 min3The 15-Year-Old Who Is Not Growing and Is Being Teased
A 15-year-old boy is brought by his mother because he is "the shortest kid in his class." He is 152 cm (well below the 3rd percentile) and 45 kg. His mother reports he has grown only 2 cm in the past year.
520 words, about 3 min4The 17-Year-Old With New-Onset Psychosis and a Curfew
A 17-year-old girl is brought by her parents because for three weeks she has been staying up most of the night, talking rapidly about a "mission" to save her classmates, and accusing her teachers of monitoring her phone. She has stopped attending school, has not slept more than 2 hours a night, and has spent her savings on hundreds of dollars of crystals and supplements.
520 words, about 3 min5The 13-Year-Old With a Positive Depression Screen and a Gun in the House
A 13-year-old boy comes for a sports physical. His intake PHQ-9 modified for adolescents scores 14, with item 9 (thoughts of self-harm) marked "several days." On private interview he says he feels "like a burden," has been sleeping poorly, and has stopped enjoying basketball.
686 words, about 3 min