A nurse is assessing a client with a phobia and notes that the client actively avoids certain situations and endures them with intense fear or anxiety. The nurse recognizes that this behavior is characteristic of:

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.

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.