MCAT® ExamPsychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of BehaviorEasy
A patient experiences a sudden onset of severe anxiety, characterized by intense fear, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and a feeling of impending doom. These episodes are unexpected and reach a peak within minutes. They occur sporadically and are not consistently triggered by specific situations. The patient is now avoiding public places due to fear of having another attack. This clinical presentation is most consistent with a diagnosis of:
- APanic Disorder
- BGeneralized Anxiety Disorder
- CSpecific Phobia
- DSocial Anxiety Disorder
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks, which are abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that reach a peak within minutes and are accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms. The subsequent avoidance of situations due to fear of more attacks (agoraphobia) is also common.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves persistent and excessive worry about various life circumstances, not discrete, intense panic attacks.
- C. Specific Phobia involves intense fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (e.g., heights, spiders), which consistently triggers the fear response.
- D. Social Anxiety Disorder involves intense fear or anxiety about social situations where the individual might be scrutinized by others.
Panic Disorder
An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms (e.g., heart palpitations, shortness of breath) and cognitive symptoms (e.g., fear of losing control or dying).
- Involves unexpected panic attacks.
- Symptoms peak within minutes.
- Often leads to anticipatory anxiety and avoidance (agoraphobia).
- Not triggered by specific, consistent situations initially.
Memory trick: Anxiety's Attacks: General, Social, Panic, Phobic.