Rosa is sitting at her desk in her office one day when she is, without warning, overcome by feelings of intense fear, losing control of herself. Her terror is so great that all she can do is sit at her desk shaking and crying. Nothing she was doing at the time would seem to have caused such an episode. Rosa's symptoms most resemble __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rosa's symptoms (intense fear, losing control, shaking, and crying) are characteristic of a panic attack, in which an individual experiences sudden and intense episodes of fear and physiological arousal without an obvious trigger. Phobias involve a persistent and excessive fear of a specific object, situation, or activity, while posttraumatic stress disorder is characterized by exposure to a traumatic event and subsequent symptoms such as intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Affective disorders, also known as mood disorders, involve disturbances in mood such as depression or bipolar disorder. None of these accurately describe Rosa's symptoms.

Rosa Is Sitting at Her Desk in Her Office One