Stephanie is riding the train home from work. Suddenly she feels a shortness of breath, her heart is racing, and she is incredibly dizzy. She has the feeling that her life is in danger. This is not the first time this has happened to Stephanie, and she is considering avoiding the train in the future. Based on this information, Stephanie is MOST likely to be diagnosed with ______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stephanie's symptoms of sudden shortness of breath, racing heart, dizziness, and fear of imminent danger are consistent with a panic attack, which is the hallmark of panic disorder. The fact that it has happened more than once and she is considering avoiding the train in the future suggests that this is a pattern of panic attacks, rather than a one-time occurrence due to a specific trigger. Social anxiety disorder involves fear and avoidance of social situations, whereas agoraphobia involves fear and avoidance of situations that might be difficult to escape, such as crowded public spaces. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves recurring, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and the need to perform certain behaviors (compulsions) to alleviate anxiety. None of these diagnoses seems to fit Stephanie's symptoms as well as panic disorder.

Stephanie Is Riding the Train Home from Work