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 A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Specific Phobia. This is the correct answer. The client's symptoms of marked fear and anxiety about a specific object or situation that is out of proportion to the actual danger, along with resulting distress and impairment, are characteristic of a specific phobia. Specific phobias involve intense fear and avoidance behavior triggered by specific objects or situations, like heights, animals, or certain environments.
Choice B rationale:
Social Phobia. The client's symptoms do not align with social phobia, which centers around fears of social judgment and performance situations, not specific objects or situations.
Choice C rationale:
Agoraphobia. Agoraphobia involves fear of situations where escape may be difficult or embarrassing, such as crowded places. The client's fear does not seem related to this type of avoidance.
Choice D rationale:
Panic Disorder. While panic disorder involves recurrent panic attacks, it does not necessarily involve avoidance of specific objects or situations as the primary response. The client's avoidance behavior is more indicative of a specific phobia.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Specific Phobia is characterized by the active avoidance of certain situations or objects accompanied by intense fear or anxiety. Individuals with specific phobias tend to go to great lengths to avoid the feared stimulus due to the overwhelming distress it causes. This aligns with the behavior described in the question.
Choice B rationale:
Social Phobia involves the fear or avoidance of social situations due to the perceived threat of negative evaluation by others. It doesn't necessarily involve specific situations or objects like the client's behavior in the question.
Choice C rationale:
Agoraphobia involves the fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of developing incapacitating symptoms. This doesn't fully match the behavior described, as the client is not expressing fear related to difficulty escaping or lack of available help.
Choice D rationale:
Panic Disorder is characterized by recurrent panic attacks and the persistent worry about future attacks. While panic attacks can be triggered by specific phobias, the avoidance behavior and the focus on certain situations are more indicative of a specific phobia rather than Panic Disorder.
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