LearningCurve: 14b. Anxiety Disorders, OCD, and PTSD

phobia

Although Frankie realizes his behavior is unreasonable, he is so distraught by high bridges that he avoids them; as a result, he must take an unnecessarily lengthy route to and from work each day. Frankie appears to suffer from a(n) _____.

learning

Andrea experiences extreme anxiety when she approaches any lake. Her therapist suggests that her fear is the result of a traumatic childhood boating accident. The therapist's suggestion reflects a _____ perspective.

obsessive-compulsive.

Brooke is focused on cleaning her home, which she does for four hours every day. In particular, the fringe on her living room rug must be straight on both sides. This takes considerable time, and she often repeats this task 10 to 12 times per day. Her experience is most symptomatic of _____ disorder.

amygdala

Fear-learning experiences that traumatize the brain can also create fear circuits within the _____.

social anxiety disorder.

If a person has an intense fear of speaking in public, eating out, or going to parties, that person may be suffering from:

glutamate

If one has too much _____, the brain's alarm centers may become overactive.

learning

Josephine experiences extreme anxiety when she approaches any lake. Her therapist suggests that her fear is the result of a traumatic childhood boating accident. The therapist's suggestion reflects a(n) _____ perspective.

emotion

Many contemporary psychologists understand anxiety to be best explained by three perspectives. Which perspective below is NOT one of those three?

obsessive-compulsive disorder.

People who are troubled by repetitive thoughts or actions are suffering from:

are tense and apprehensive all the time.

People who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder:

phobia

Phil is extremely fearful of germs. He sleeps in a special chamber at night, wears gloves, and will only eat food that he can unwrap. His symptoms are most characteristic of a(n) _____ .

obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Sally is focused on cleaning her home, which she does for four hours every day. In particular, the fringe on her living room rug must be straight on both sides. This takes considerable time, and she often repeats this task 10 to 12 times per day. Her experience is MOST symptomatic of:

panic attacks

Several times in the past two months, Herb has experienced a racing heart, intense fear that something horrible is about to happen, and an inability to breathe. Herb most likely is suffering from _____.

phobia

Thirty-five-year-old Caroline needs to have her blood drawn. She is so distraught by this that she must mentally prepare herself for it, as well as take a short-acting sedative. Caroline seems to be suffering from a(n) _____.

a phobia.

Thirty-five-year-old Lucy needs to have her blood drawn. She is so distraught by this that she must mentally prepare herself for it, as well as take a short-acting sedative. Lucy seems to be suffering from:

generalized anxiety

Tomas is continually tense and plagued by muscle tension, sleeplessness, and an inability to concentrate. He most likely suffers from _____ disorder.

social

Twenty-year-old Hope lives in a small town. She has always been extremely shy, but lately she has been feeling intensely afraid that others are scrutinizing her. She avoids speaking in class, she no longer goes to parties, and she starts trembling whenever she is in a public place. Hope seems to be suffering from _____ anxiety disorder.

posttraumatic stress disorder.

Years after he barely survived an attack that killed his wife and two children, Mr. Puskari suffers recurring flashbacks and frequent nightmares of the event. They render him incapable of holding a steady job. Mr. Puskari is MOST clearly showing signs of:

PTSD

Years after he barely survived an attack that killed his wife and two children, Mr. Yousafzai suffers recurring flashbacks and frequent nightmares of the event. They render him incapable of holding a steady job. Mr. Yousafzai is most clearly showing signs of _____.

panic

_____ disorder is to anxiety as a hurricane is to a windy day.