Derek suddenly felt his hands and legs go numb and started shaking involuntarily while preparing for his high school final semester. The acuteness of the problem forced his parents to consult a clinician. When asked, the clinician was told that it was the first time Derek had suffered from any of these symptoms. Derek is most likely experiencing

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Derek is experiencing a panic attack, which is characterized by sudden and intense feelings of fear or anxiety, accompanied by physical symptoms such as numbness, shaking, and sweating. Panic disorder is characterized by recurring panic attacks and a fear of future attacks, but Derek has only experienced these symptoms once. Post-traumatic stress disorder typically results from exposure to a traumatic event, and Derek's symptoms do not suggest this. Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in consciousness or memory, which are not present in Derek's case.

Derek Suddenly Felt His Hands and Legs Go Numb and Started