A nurse is assessing a client with a phobia and asks, "What specific object or situation causes you the most fear or anxiety?" The client responds, "I'm terrified of flying in airplanes. Every time I even think about getting on a plane, I start to panic." Based on the client's response, the nurse recognizes that the client is experiencing:

Specific Phobia.

Social Phobia.

Agoraphobia.

Panic Disorder.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A rationale:

The client's fear of flying in airplanes and the intense panic response when even thinking about it are indicative of a specific phobia. Specific phobias involve an intense and irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. In this case, the fear of flying is specific and triggers a significant anxiety reaction.

Choice B rationale:

Social phobia (also known as social anxiety disorder) involves an excessive fear of social situations where the individual fears being scrutinized or judged by others. This fear extends beyond a specific object or situation, which is not the case in this scenario.

Choice C rationale:

Agoraphobia involves a fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available if a panic attack occurs. This fear often leads to avoidance of various places or situations, such as crowded spaces. The client's fear of flying is not characteristic of agoraphobia.

Choice D rationale:

Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, often accompanied by a fear of having additional attacks. While the client does experience panic symptoms related to the fear of flying, the primary issue is the specific fear of flying itself, suggesting a specific phobia rather than panic disorder.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Genetic predisposition and neurochemical imbalances. While genetics and neurochemistry can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders, they are not the primary factors behind avoidance behaviors associated with specific phobias. Phobias are often learned responses.

Choice B rationale:

Traumatic experiences and learned associations. This choice is the correct answer. Avoidance behaviors seen in specific phobias are usually a result of traumatic experiences that lead to the formation of strong fear responses through learned associations. For instance, if someone had a traumatic experience with spiders, they might develop a phobia of spiders and actively avoid situations involving spiders to prevent the intense fear from reoccurring.

Choice C rationale:

Cultural influences and family dynamics. While cultural factors and family dynamics can impact a person's psychological development, they are not the primary drivers of avoidance behaviors in specific phobias. Phobias are more closely linked to personal experiences and learned responses.

Choice D rationale:

Negative self-beliefs and cognitive distortions. Negative self-beliefs and cognitive distortions are more characteristic of conditions like depression and anxiety disorders, but they are not the central factors driving avoidance behaviors in specific phobias. These behaviors are more strongly connected to learned fear responses.

A. "It's important to confront your fears and gradually expose yourself to the situations that make you anxious.". B. "It's best to avoid situations that trigger your anxiety to prevent panic attacks.". C. "You should try to distract yourself when you start feeling anxious in those situations.". D. "You should stay home and avoid going out to prevent any potential panic attacks.".

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

This response is appropriate as it aligns with the principles of exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves gradually confronting feared situations to reduce anxiety over time. By encouraging the client to face their fears and expose themselves to anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled manner, they can learn that their anxiety decreases over time.

Choice B rationale:

This response is counterproductive and not recommended. Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety can actually reinforce the fear and make it more difficult for the client to cope with their agoraphobia. Avoidance prevents the client from learning that their fear is manageable.

Choice C rationale:

While distraction techniques can be helpful for managing anxiety in the moment, they do not address the underlying fear associated with agoraphobia. Encouraging distraction as the primary coping strategy might hinder the client's progress in overcoming their fear.

Choice D rationale:

This response promotes avoidance, which is not a recommended approach in treating anxiety disorders like agoraphobia. Avoiding situations altogether can worsen the fear and limit the client's ability to engage in normal activities.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient with a specific phobia is avoiding situations that trigger their fear. This avoidance behavior is most likely a result of:

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A client with agoraphobia states, "I am afraid of being in places where I can't escape easily." Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a patient with a specific phobia. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates a specific phobia?

A client with a phobia of flying in airplanes expresses, "I'm so scared that something bad will happen during the flight. I can't even imagine being on a plane without feeling intense fear." This statement is an example of:

A nurse is providing education to a client with social phobia. Which of the following statements accurately describes social phobia?

A nurse is assessing a client with a phobia. Which non-pharmacological therapy should the nurse recommend to help the client cope with their fear?

A client with a phobia is experiencing physiological symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and shortness of breath. These symptoms are most likely due to:

What is one example of an outcome for the nursing interventions aimed at reducing fear and anxiety in clients with phobias?

A nurse is educating a patient about phobias. Which of the following statements accurately describes specific phobias?