Fiona, a senior corporate consultant, was originally prescribed a benzodiazepine to manage mild anxiety before major presentations. Over the past year, her usage has escalated, and she now takes the medication multiple times every single day, regardless of whether she has a presentation. She finds she must take four times her original dosage to experience the same calming effect.
If Fiona misses a scheduled dose, she experiences severe hand tremors, rapid heart palpitations, and intense nausea. She has also become convinced that she is incapable of making executive decisions at work or engaging in casual conversations with her colleagues without taking the medication.
Discuss concepts of substance dependence with reference to Fiona's behaviour.
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