MCAT® ExamPsychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of BehaviorMedium
A patient arrives at the emergency room exhibiting sudden, severe symptoms including difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, and a feeling of impending doom, despite no apparent medical cause. These symptoms rapidly subside after about 20 minutes. The patient reports similar episodes occurring unexpectedly over the past month. What psychological disorder is most consistent with these symptoms?
- ASpecific Phobia
- BPanic Disorder
- CSocial Anxiety Disorder
- DGeneralized Anxiety Disorder
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Panic Disorder
The description of sudden, intense physical and cognitive symptoms peaking rapidly, along with a feeling of impending doom and recurrent unexpected episodes, is characteristic of a panic attack and, when recurrent, points to Panic Disorder.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Specific Phobia involves intense fear of a particular object or situation, not unexpected attacks.
- C. Social Anxiety Disorder involves fear of social situations, not spontaneous physical attacks.
- D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves persistent, excessive worry about various things, not acute, intense attacks.
Panic Disorder
An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause.
- Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
- Attacks involve sudden, intense fear and physical symptoms (e.g., palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness)
- Often accompanied by a feeling of impending doom or loss of control
- Followed by persistent concern about having more attacks
Memory trick: Panic is a sudden, unexpected, breathless terror.