Which of the following is a characteristic of a specific phobia?
The fear or anxiety is not better explained by another mental disorder.
The individual fears or avoids social situations due to the perceived threat of negative evaluation.
The fear or anxiety is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more.
The individual fears or avoids certain situations due to thoughts of difficulty escaping or lack of available help in case of developing incapacitating symptoms.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
While this characteristic is important, it doesn't distinguish specific phobia from other mental disorders. It's a common requirement for many mental disorders to ensure the symptoms are not transient.
Choice B rationale:
This characteristic is more aligned with Social Phobia, where individuals fear negative evaluation in social situations, rather than Specific Phobia, which involves fear of specific situations or objects.
Choice C rationale:
The persistence of fear or anxiety for at least 6 months is a defining feature of specific phobias. This chronic nature helps differentiate it from transient fears or anxieties.
Choice D rationale:
This characteristic is related to Agoraphobia, where individuals fear situations in which they might develop incapacitating symptoms and lack available help. It doesn't specifically describe the fear of certain situations or objects seen in specific phobias.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Antidepressants (Choice A) are not typically the first-line medication class for treating specific phobias. While they may be used in some cases, they are not the primary choice for addressing the symptoms of phobias.
Choice B rationale:
Benzodiazepines (Choice B) are sometimes used to manage acute anxiety symptoms, but they are generally not recommended for long-term treatment of specific phobias due to the risk of dependence and potential side effects.
Choice C rationale:
Beta-blockers (Choice C) can be useful in managing the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and trembling, which often accompany phobias. They work by blocking the effects of adrenaline, reducing the "fight or flight" response. This can help the client feel more physically at ease when confronting their phobic stimulus.
Choice D rationale:
Analgesics (Choice D) are pain-relieving medications and have no direct relevance to treating phobias. They do not address the underlying fear and anxiety associated with phobias.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Social phobia is a fear of a particular stimulus that triggers an excessive and unreasonable response. This description aligns more closely with the definition of a specific phobia rather than social phobia. Specific phobias involve a fear of specific objects or situations, not general social interactions.
Choice B rationale:
Social phobia is a fear of being judged, criticized, or embarrassed in social or performance situations. This is the correct answer. Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is characterized by an intense fear of negative evaluation in social settings. Individuals with social phobia are often excessively self-conscious and fear humiliation or embarrassment when interacting with others.
Choice C rationale:
Social phobia is a fear of being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing. This description aligns with agoraphobia, which involves a fear of situations from which escape may be challenging, rather than social phobia.
Choice D rationale:
Social phobia is a fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that poses little or no actual danger. This description aligns more with the definition of a specific phobia, where the fear is often triggered by a specific object or situation that poses limited real danger.
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