A nurse is assessing a client with anxiety disorder. Which signs would the nurse expect to find? Select all that apply.

Choice A rationale:

"You're experiencing marked fear of specific objects, right?" This statement relates to specific phobias, where individuals have intense fear of particular objects or situations, which is not indicative of panic disorder.

Choice B rationale:

"Your fear of open spaces is leading to avoidance behavior, correct?" This choice reflects agoraphobia, where individuals fear and avoid places or situations where they might feel trapped or helpless, often due to fear of having a panic attack. However, panic disorder involves unexpected panic attacks without the specific trigger of open spaces.

Choice C rationale:

"You're having unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent fear, aren't you?" This statement accurately represents panic disorder. Individuals with panic disorder experience recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, often followed by apprehension about having more attacks or the consequences of the attacks. This persistent fear of future attacks is a key diagnostic criterion for panic disorder.

Choice D rationale:

"It sounds like you're dealing with obsessions and compulsions." This choice pertains to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which involves intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). This is distinct from panic disorder.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Choice A rationale:

Relaxation techniques can be helpful in managing anxiety, but they do not involve exposing the client to feared situations. Relaxation techniques focus on calming the mind and body through methods like deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.

Choice B rationale:

Herbal remedies are not directly related to exposure-based anxiety treatment. They involve the use of natural substances to potentially alleviate symptoms but do not address the underlying fear response through controlled exposure.

Choice C rationale:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the modality that involves reducing anxiety by exposing the client to the feared situation in a controlled manner. This process is called exposure therapy. CBT also incorporates cognitive restructuring to challenge and modify irrational thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety.

Choice D rationale:

Medication therapy may include anti-anxiety medications, but it does not involve exposure to feared situations. Medications can help alleviate symptoms, but they do not target the underlying behavioral and cognitive responses that exposure-based therapies address.

Choice E rationale:

Complementary therapy is a broad category that includes various alternative treatments, but it doesn't specifically focus on exposure-based interventions for anxiety. Complementary therapies may include practices like acupuncture, massage, or meditation, which are not synonymous with exposure therapy.