Phobias: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Abnormal Psychology Quiz

Question 1

What is a key characteristic of specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Intense fear of specific things or situations

Answer

Feeling very happy and excited

Answer

Repeatedly washing hands and cleaning

Answer

Seeing or hearing things that aren't real

Question 2

What is the diagnostic criterion for social phobia?

Accepted Answer

Persistent fear of social situations where scrutiny or judgment is perceived

Answer

Intense fear of specific objects or animals

Question 3

Which type of therapy is recommended as a first-line treatment for agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Answer

Psychodynamic therapy

Question 4

Which of the following is the most common type of specific phobia?

Accepted Answer

Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)

Answer

Acrophobia (fear of heights)

Question 5

Which neurotransmitter plays a role in the development and maintenance of fear responses?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine

Answer

Serotonin

Question 6

How does a phobia differ from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Accepted Answer

Phobias involve intense fear of specific objects or situations, while GAD is characterized by excessive anxiety across multiple situations without a clear trigger

Answer

Phobias are more common in women, while GAD affects both men and women equally

Question 7

According to the DSM-5 criteria, the fear or anxiety associated with a specific phobia must persist for at least how long?

Accepted Answer

1 month

Answer

2 weeks

Answer

6 months

Answer

1 year

Question 8

Exposure therapy for phobias aims to gradually expose individuals to the feared stimulus. What is the primary goal of this technique?

Accepted Answer

To extinguish the conditioned fear response

Answer

To develop coping mechanisms

Answer

To enhance self-efficacy

Answer

To modify negative thoughts

Question 9

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for phobias involves identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Which of the following is a core component of CBT for phobias?

Accepted Answer

Thought restructuring

Answer

Behavioral activation

Answer

Acceptance and commitment therapy

Answer

Motivational interviewing

Question 10

Which phobia is defined by an overwhelming and persistent fear of open or crowded spaces?

Accepted Answer

Agoraphobia

Answer

Acrophobia

Answer

Arachnophobia

Answer

Social phobia

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic symptom of specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Excessive fear or anxiety triggered by specific objects or situations

Answer

Avoidance of social situations

Answer

Panic attacks in open or crowded spaces

Answer

Persistent worry and anxiety about multiple life domains

Question 12

Which of the following is a risk factor for developing social phobia?

Accepted Answer

Experiencing all of the above factors

Answer

Having a family history of anxiety disorders

Answer

Experiencing childhood trauma or abuse

Answer

Having low self-esteem and negative self-beliefs

Question 13

What are the potential consequences of leaving social phobia untreated?

Accepted Answer

Impaired social interactions

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of depression

Answer

Enhanced career prospects

Answer

Improved physical health

Question 14

Which type of psychotherapy is most effective in treating specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Answer

Psychoanalysis

Answer

Humanistic therapy

Answer

Gestalt therapy

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a common treatment approach for social phobia?

Accepted Answer

Surgery

Answer

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Answer

Exposure therapy

Answer

Medication

Question 16

What is the primary goal of exposure therapy in the treatment of phobias?

Accepted Answer

To gradually expose individuals to the feared stimulus

Answer

To eliminate avoidance behaviors

Answer

To modify maladaptive thoughts

Answer

To reduce physiological arousal

Question 17

Which symptom characterizes agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Persistent fear of open or crowded spaces

Answer

Intense fear of social interactions

Answer

Excessive worry about having a panic attack

Answer

Avoiding specific objects or situations

Question 18

Which therapeutic approach involves exposing individuals to feared situations under controlled conditions?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Answer

Psychodynamic therapy

Answer

Humanistic therapy

Answer

Systemic therapy

Question 19

Which type of social phobia involves excessive fear of being judged in social situations?

Accepted Answer

Social anxiety disorder

Answer

Performance anxiety

Answer

Avoidant personality disorder

Answer

Agoraphobia

Question 20

What is the primary objective of cognitive-behavioral therapy for phobias?

Accepted Answer

To modify negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with the feared situation.

Answer

To build coping mechanisms for managing anxiety.

Answer

To help individuals understand the deeper causes of their phobia.

Answer

To provide encouragement and support.

Question 21

What is the key difference between a specific phobia and a typical fear?

Accepted Answer

The distress or impairment caused by the fear

Answer

The intensity of the fear

Answer

The duration of the fear

Answer

The irrationality of the fear

Question 22

How do mindfulness techniques aid in coping with anxiety related to agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness techniques enable individuals to recognize and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that fuel anxiety in feared situations.

Answer

Mindfulness techniques primarily offer relaxation and stress reduction.

Answer

Mindfulness techniques encourage individuals to evade situations that trigger their anxiety.

Answer

Mindfulness techniques are ineffective in treating agoraphobia.

Question 23

How is agoraphobia typically diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Through a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation

Answer

Through a physical exam

Answer

Through a blood test

Answer

There is no formal diagnosis for agoraphobia

Question 24

Which type of therapy is considered the first-line treatment for specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Exposure therapy

Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Answer

Psychotherapy

Answer

Medication

Question 25

What is the key difference between social phobia and agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Social phobia involves fear of being judged by others, while agoraphobia involves fear of open spaces or situations where escape might be difficult.

Answer

Social phobia is more common than agoraphobia.

Answer

Agoraphobia is more likely to co-occur with panic disorder than social phobia.

Answer

Social phobia and agoraphobia are the same disorder.

Question 26

Which of the following medications is commonly prescribed for the treatment of social phobia?

Accepted Answer

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Answer

Benzodiazepines

Answer

Antipsychotics

Answer

Mood stabilizers

Question 27

What is an important consideration when treating individuals with phobias?

Accepted Answer

Respecting their level of distress and proceeding at a pace that is comfortable for them

Answer

Encouraging them to avoid their fears

Answer

Using confrontational methods

Answer

Ignoring their irrational beliefs

Question 28

Social phobia is characterized primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Extreme fear of embarrassment or humiliation in social situations

Answer

Avoidance of crowded or open spaces due to fear

Answer

Persistent intrusive thoughts and vivid images

Answer

Feelings of depersonalization and derealization

Question 29

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for specific phobias commonly involves:

Accepted Answer

Both exposure and cognitive restructuring

Answer

Gradual exposure to the feared object or situation

Answer

Cognitive restructuring to challenge negative thoughts

Answer

Medication as the primary treatment

Question 30

Which therapeutic technique, involving controlled exposure to internal bodily sensations, is specifically designed to treat agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Interoceptive exposure

Answer

Systematic desensitization

Answer

Cognitive reframing

Answer

Dialectical behavior therapy

Question 31

Which type of therapy gradually exposes clients to their feared situations while ensuring safety and providing support?

Accepted Answer

Exposure therapy

Answer

Cognitive restructuring

Answer

Person-centered therapy

Answer

Gestalt therapy

Question 32

The fear of open spaces, crowds, or public places is known as:

Accepted Answer

Agoraphobia

Answer

Acrophobia

Answer

Claustrophobia

Answer

Trypophobia

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a key symptom of specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety that persists for less than six months

Answer

Intense and persistent fear of a specific object or situation

Answer

Avoidance of the feared object or situation

Answer

Rapid heart rate and sweating in the presence of the feared object or situation

Question 34

Which cognitive distortion is commonly observed in individuals with agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Catastrophic thinking about leaving home

Answer

Thought suppression about anxious feelings

Answer

Selective attention to negative information

Answer

Emotional reasoning

Question 35

Which type of therapy involves gradually exposing clients to feared stimuli in a safe environment?

Accepted Answer

Exposure therapy

Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Answer

Psychodynamic therapy

Answer

Client-centered therapy

Question 36

In exposure therapy for social phobia, which of the following is a primary goal?

Accepted Answer

To gradually expose clients to feared social situations in a safe and controlled environment

Answer

To teach clients relaxation techniques

Answer

To challenge negative thoughts and beliefs

Answer

To help clients avoid their fears

Question 37

Which class of medication is commonly prescribed as an adjunct to therapy for specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Answer

Benzodiazepines

Answer

Tricyclic antidepressants

Answer

Antipsychotics

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a specific phobia?

Accepted Answer

Presence of hallucinations or delusions

Answer

Intense fear or anxiety in response to a specific object or situation

Answer

Avoidance of the feared object or situation

Answer

Excessive or unreasonable fear that is out of proportion to the actual danger

Question 39

Which of the following is considered the first-line treatment approach for specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

Answer

Psychodynamic therapy

Answer

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Answer

Medication only

Question 40

Which class of medication is most commonly used in the pharmacological treatment of agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Answer

Antipsychotics

Answer

Mood stabilizers

Answer

Benzodiazepines

Question 41

What is a fundamental difference between specific phobias and social phobia?

Accepted Answer

The type of feared object or situation

Answer

The intensity of the fear response

Answer

The age of onset

Answer

The presence of avoidance behaviors

Question 42

Which of the following conditions is NOT commonly comorbid with agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Antisocial personality disorder

Answer

Depression

Answer

Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer

Substance use disorders

Question 43

Which of the following is a primary symptom of specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Intense and persistent fear of a specific object or situation that is excessive or unreasonable

Answer

Excessive worry about the future

Answer

Persistent thoughts of harming oneself or others

Question 44

What is a key diagnostic criterion for social phobia?

Accepted Answer

Intense fear of social situations where scrutiny or embarrassment may occur, leading to avoidance

Answer

Avoidance of specific objects or situations

Answer

Panic attacks triggered by certain situations or objects

Question 45

Which of the following therapeutic approaches is primarily used to treat agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Answer

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Answer

Psychodynamic Therapy

Answer

Person-Centered Therapy

Question 46

What is believed to be a primary biological basis for the development of phobias?

Accepted Answer

Dysregulation of neural pathways involved in fear and anxiety responses

Answer

Cognitive distortions

Answer

Hormonal imbalances

Question 47

Which of the following is a characteristic of panic disorder that distinguishes it from specific phobias?

Accepted Answer

Panic attacks that occur spontaneously without a specific trigger

Answer

Avoidance of feared objects or situations

Answer

Excessive worry about having a panic attack

Question 48

What is the role of cognitive factors in maintaining phobias?

Accepted Answer

Catastrophic thinking and overestimation of threat

Answer

Childhood trauma

Answer

Physiological arousal

Answer

Genetic predisposition

Question 49

Which of the following is an effective self-help technique for managing phobias?

Accepted Answer

Gradual exposure to feared stimuli in a structured and controlled manner

Answer

Avoidance of triggers

Answer

Medication alone

Question 50

What is the pharmacological treatment of choice for severe phobias?

Accepted Answer

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Answer

Tricyclic antidepressants

Answer

Antipsychotics

Answer

Benzodiazepines

Question 51

Which of the following is a key component of successful exposure-based treatment for phobias?

Accepted Answer

A hierarchy of fears that guides gradual exposure

Answer

Insight into the origins of the phobia

Answer

Medication to reduce anxiety

Answer

Supportive therapy alone

Question 52

What is the general prognosis for individuals with phobias who receive appropriate treatment?

Accepted Answer

Good

Answer

Poor, as phobias are chronic conditions

Answer

Depends on the severity of the phobia

Answer

Only curable with long-term psychotherapy