A patient's family member died in the 9/11 World Trade Center explosion.The patient says, "I can't go into tall buildings because I get sweaty, my heart races, and I can't breathe.I get terrifying feelings the building will explode." Which response demonstrates the nurse's understanding of this symptoms/signs?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms are consistent with a specific phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an excessive or irrational fear of a specific object or situation. In this case, the patient's fear is related to tall buildings and is likely associated with their family member's death in the 9/11 bombing. Option A is not the best response because it assumes the patient has rituals to control their anxiety, which may not be the case. Option B is not appropriate because there is no indication that the patient has a history of GAD. Option C is not the best response because it suggests a diagnosis of acute stress disorder, but the patient's symptoms are more consistent with a specific phobia.

A Patient's Family Member Died in the 9/11 World Trade