Question 1

The median age of onset for a specific phobia is .

Accepted Answer

The median age of onset for a specific phobia is typically around 7 years old, indicating that these fears often begin in childhood.

Question 2

Which of the following procedures is NOT part of Barlow's panic control treatment (PCT)?

Accepted Answer

Barlow's panic control treatment (PCT) focuses on cognitive therapy, inducing mini panic attacks, and exercises to simulate panic symptoms, but it does not specifically include reducing agoraphobic avoidance through exposure, which is more related to treatments for agoraphobia.

Question 3

A psychological disorder in children characterized by unrealistic and persistent worry that something will happen to their parents, which may result in refusal to leave home, is called

Accepted Answer

Separation anxiety disorder is a psychological disorder in children characterized by unrealistic and persistent worry that something will happen to their parents, resulting in refusal to leave home. Globus hystericus refers to a lump in the throat, whereas school and situational phobias involve fear of specific situations or objects.

Question 4

When diagnosing separation anxiety disorder in children, clinicians must

Accepted Answer

The answer of When diagnosing separation anxiety disorder in children,...

Question 5

The main difference between situational phobia and panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) is

Accepted Answer

The main difference between situational phobia and PDA is that people with situational phobia never experience panic attacks outside the context of the phobic situation, while people with PDA may experience panic attacks in other situations as well.

Question 6

The purpose of creating mini panic attacks in panic control treatment therapy is to

Accepted Answer

The purpose of creating mini panic attacks in panic control treatment therapy is to allow the patient to develop alternative attitudes about the feared situation. By experiencing a controlled panic attack, the patient can identify what triggers their panic and learn to cope with it using different strategies. This can help them develop a sense of control over their panic attacks and reduce the fear associated with them.

Question 7

What is one factor that distinguishes between traditional exposure-based treatments for panic disorder and the more recent panic control treatment (PCT) developed at one of Barlow's clinics?

Accepted Answer

One factor that distinguishes between traditional exposure-based treatments for panic disorder and the more recent panic control treatment (PCT) is that PCT involves exposure to the interceptive sensations associated with panic attacks, while traditional exposure-based treatments may not always include this element.

Question 8

A major double-blind research study sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health looked at the separate and combined effects of both psychological and drug treatments for patients suffering from panic disorder. Participants were randomized into five different treatment conditions, including all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation were not one of the five treatment conditions in the study, as they are not currently established treatments for panic disorder.

Question 9

A friend stated that when she went to a clinic, she had to spend several 30- to 60-second sessions shaking her head from side to side, spinning in a chair, tensing all her muscles, hyperventilating, or breathing through a narrow straw. She is surprised that you correctly guessed that she is receiving treatment for

Accepted Answer

The described techniques of shaking the head, spinning in a chair, tensing muscles, hyperventilating, or breathing through a narrow straw are all part of exposure therapy commonly used to treat panic disorder by gradually exposing the individual to feared physical sensations (such as dizziness or shortness of breath) and helping them learn to tolerate and manage them.

Question 10

Is agoraphobic behavior always accompanied by panic attacks?

Accepted Answer

While panic attacks can be a common trigger for agoraphobia, not all people with agoraphobia experience panic attacks. Some individuals may develop a fear of certain situations or places due to past negative experiences or feelings of vulnerability in those environments. Additionally, some individuals with agoraphobia may experience anticipatory anxiety, which is anxiety about potentially having a panic attack in a situation rather than an actual panic attack.

Question 11

In the type of specific phobia called "blood-injury-injection," there is an inherited vasovagal response and a tendency to faint due to

Accepted Answer

In the type of specific phobia called "blood-injury-injection," there is an inherited vasovagal response and a tendency to faint due to a decrease in blood pressure. This response is triggered by the sight, thought, or anticipation of blood, injections, or other medical procedures. The vasovagal response causes the blood vessels to dilate and the heart rate to slow down, leading to a decrease in blood pressure and fainting. This response is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation that helped our ancestors survive predators by playing dead.

Question 12

A relative of yours who suffers from panic disorder asks you what treatment would have the longest-lasting benefits. Since you have just read about the double-blind NIMH research study evaluating psychological treatments with and without medication, you tell your relative to first try

Accepted Answer

The NIMH research study found that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on its own was as effective as medication combined with psychological treatment and had longer-lasting benefits. Therefore, recommending psychological treatment with CBT would be the best choice for someone with panic disorder seeking long-lasting benefits.

Question 13

You are told about a child who has shown behavior consistent with "separation anxiety." In order to determine if the child actually has a disorder or whether the behavior is normal, you would first need to know

Accepted Answer

Separation anxiety is developmentally normal in young children, typically peaking around 18 months to 3 years of age. Knowing the child's age helps determine if the behavior is age-appropriate or indicative of a disorder.

Question 14

Your best friend refuses to go out because she is afraid that she will say or do the wrong thing. Social situations make her heart rate accelerate and she tends to avoid shopping malls, public transportation, tunnels, and restaurants. Your friend may be suffering from:

Accepted Answer

Your friend's symptoms, including an accelerated heart rate in social situations and avoidance of places like shopping malls, public transportation, tunnels, and restaurants, suggest she may be suffering from panic disorder. Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and repeated attacks of fear that last for several minutes or longer. These are known as panic attacks. Panic disorder often involves a fear of disaster or of losing control even when there is no real danger.

Question 15

In the general population, as many as of people suffer from social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

Accepted Answer

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, affects about 12.1% of the general population at some point in their lives, according to epidemiological studies. This condition is characterized by a significant amount of fear in one or more social situations, causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life.

Question 16

In treating panic disorder, all of the following types of medications are used EXCEPT .

Accepted Answer

Opiates are not typically used in the treatment of panic disorder. The other three medication options (SNRIs, SSRIs, and benzodiazepines) are commonly used and have established efficacy in managing panic symptoms.

Question 17

D-cycloserine is a drug that seems to act to work in the

Accepted Answer

D-cycloserine acts in the amygdala, a region of the brain involved in processing emotions such as fear and anxiety, to diminish anxiety. It has been studied for its potential to enhance the effectiveness of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders by reducing the fear response.

Question 18

All of the following are characteristics common to specific phobias EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Decreased arousal of the autonomic nervous system is not a characteristic common to specific phobias. In fact, individuals with specific phobias often experience increased arousal of the autonomic nervous system, which can include symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and trembling.

Question 19

Manuel had a fear of riding on buses, so his mother had to drive him to school every day. Manuel's phobia is a(n) _________ phobia.

Accepted Answer

Manuel's fear is specifically related to riding on buses, which is a situational phobia. The other options (natural environment, blood-injury-injection, and animal) do not apply to this situation.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a somatic sensation that accompanies Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

All of the above options (stomach ache, heart pounding, excessive sweating) are somatic sensations commonly experienced in Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. Therefore, none of the options are incorrect.

Quiz 5: Anxiety, Trauma and Stressor-Related, and Obsessive-Compulsive