Anxiety

When does anxiety become a source of clinical concern?

• When it reaches a moderate level

• When it reaches such an intense level that daily function becomes difficult

• When the unconscious conflicts that produce it lead to troublesome dreams

• When the person becomes unscathed by it

An irrational and ongoing fear of a particular object, activity, or situation is known as a(n)

• general anxiety

• specific phobia.

• allergy.

• overall aversion.

One of the most common forms of phobias is the fear of

• water

• enclosed spaces

• heights

• being isolated

Ron, a high-school graduate, has had an intense fear of bats since he was a toddler. After consulting with a clinician, he was diagnosed with

• a panic disorder.

• general anxiety.

• a specific phobia.

• an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

"Individuals with specific phobias have overactive "alarm systems" to danger." This view is according to the

• psychodynamic perspective.

• cognitive-behavioral view.

• humanistic approach.

• biological perspective.

According to one theory, individuals with social anxiety disorder are unable to shift their attention away from

• their performance of difficult activities.

• distractions in the environment.

• unconscious fears.

• what other people will think of them.

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

• a panic attack.

• panic disorder.

• post-traumatic stress disorder.

• dissociative disorder

Nasir occasionally experiences periods of intense overwhelming dread that come about for no reason. These periods are marked by trembling, heart palpitations, and chills, and the feeling that he is losing control. Nasir might be diagnosed as having

• post-traumatic stress.

• generalized anxiety.

• phobic disorder.

• panic disorder.

Kaila is so intimidated by the possibility of having a panic attack that she stays home the majority of the time. If she does go out, she insists that one of her friends accompanies her in case she has a panic attack. In addition to having panic disorder, Kaila might also be described as suffering from

• hydrophobia.

• agoraphobia.

• claustrophobia.

• arachnophobia.

Irene was a 20-year-old college student with a good personality but not many friends.She came to the clinic complaining of excessive anxiety. Everything was a catastrophe for Irene. Although her GPA was 3.7, she was convinced she would fail every test she took. She worried about every test and every paper, afraid she would be unable to understand and complete the work.

Irene did not worry only about school. She was also concerned about relationships with her friends, and whenever she was with her new boyfriend she feared making a fool of herself and losing his interest. In fact, she reported that each date went extremely well, but she knew the next one would probably be a disaster.

Irene was also concerned about her health. She had minor hypertension, probably because she was somewhat overweight. She then approached every meal as if death itself might result if she ate the wrong types or amounts of food.

In addition, Irene worried about her religious faith and about her relationships with her family, particularly her mother and sister. Although Irene had an occasional panic attack, this was not a major issue to her. In addition to high blood pressure, Irene had tension headaches and a ‘nervous stomach’, with a lot of pain.

1. Please provide a diagnosis for the above case. Support your diagnosis with symptoms you can observe from the case.