Which disorder involves marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation and leads to avoidance?

Which disorder involves marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation and leads to avoidance?

• A. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• B. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• C. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• D. Specific Phobia

Answer: (D)

Specific phobia is defined by a persistent, irrational fear or anxiety focused on a particular object or situation, such as animals, heights, flying, needles, or storms. The fear is out of proportion to the actual danger, and it leads to avoidance or intense distress when the trigger is encountered or even anticipated. This avoidance or distress causes significant impairment in daily functioning and typically lasts for at least several months. The key here is that the fear is narrowly targeted to one specific thing, rather than a general pattern of worry or a broader set of symptoms. Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves pervasive worry across many domains, not a single trigger. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder centers on intrusive thoughts and ritualized behaviors to reduce anxiety, rather than a simple fear of a specific object or situation. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder features distress related to re-experiencing a trauma, with additional avoidance and hyperarousal, not a focused fear of a specific object or situation.

Specific phobia is defined by a persistent, irrational fear or anxiety focused on a particular object or situation, such as animals, heights, flying, needles, or storms. The fear is out of proportion to the actual danger, and it leads to avoidance or intense distress when the trigger is encountered or even anticipated. This avoidance or distress causes significant impairment in daily functioning and typically lasts for at least several months. The key here is that the fear is narrowly targeted to one specific thing, rather than a general pattern of worry or a broader set of symptoms.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves pervasive worry across many domains, not a single trigger. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder centers on intrusive thoughts and ritualized behaviors to reduce anxiety, rather than a simple fear of a specific object or situation. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder features distress related to re-experiencing a trauma, with additional avoidance and hyperarousal, not a focused fear of a specific object or situation.