Anxiety Disorders Practice Questions

Q: Along with a pleasant stimulus, noxious stimuli are given in the treatment of alcohol dependence or sexual disorder. This is which of the following types of behavior therapy?

Aversion therapy. ### Explanation **Correct Answer: B. Aversion Therapy** **Aversion therapy** is a form of behavior therapy based on the principle of **Classical Conditioning**. It involves the repeated pairing of an undesirable but pleasant stimulus (e.g., alcohol or paraphilic triggers) with an unpleasant/noxious stimulus (e.g., electric shocks, emetics like disulfiram, or unpleasant odors). Over time, the patient develops a conditioned aversion to the previously pleasurable stimulus, leading to a reduction in the unwanted behavior. It is commonly used in treating alcohol dependence, smoking, and certain sexual disorders. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **A. Negative Reinforcement:** This involves the **removal** of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the frequency of a desired behavior (e.g., taking an aspirin to remove a headache). In the question, a noxious stimulus is *added*, not removed. * **C. Punishment:** While similar, punishment is an **Operant Conditioning** concept where a consequence follows a behavior to decrease its frequency. Aversion therapy is specifically the *pairing* of stimuli to change the emotional response (Classical Conditioning). * **D. Flooding:** This is a technique used for phobias and OCD where the patient is directly exposed to their maximum feared stimulus (prolonged exposure) until the anxiety response extinguishes. It does not involve noxious stimuli like shocks or chemicals. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Disulfiram (Antabuse):** A classic example of aversion therapy (pharmacological) used in alcohol dependence by causing a toxic reaction (DER). * **Covert Sensitization:** A variation of aversion therapy where the noxious stimulus is merely **imagined** rather than physically applied. * **Systematic Desensitization:** The opposite of flooding; it involves graded exposure combined with relaxation techniques (based on reciprocal inhibition).

Q: A patient presented in casualty with a history of sudden palpitation, sensation of impending doom, and constriction in his chest. This lasted for about 10-15 minutes after which he recovered. What is the likely diagnosis?

Panic attack. ### Explanation **Correct Option: D. Panic attack** The clinical presentation describes a classic **Panic Attack**. It is characterized by an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes. Key diagnostic features present in this case include **autonomic hyperactivity** (palpitations), **chest discomfort** (constriction), and **cognitive symptoms** (sense of impending doom). A hallmark of panic attacks is their discrete nature—they typically last for 10–30 minutes and resolve spontaneously. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **A. Phobia:** While phobias can trigger panic symptoms, they are always linked to a **specific stimulus** (e.g., heights, spiders). The question describes a spontaneous episode without a specific trigger. * **B. Personality disorder:** These are enduring, pervasive patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate from cultural expectations. They do not present as acute, episodic physical symptoms. * **C. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):** GAD is characterized by "free-floating anxiety" and excessive worry about daily events lasting for **at least 6 months**. It lacks the sudden, crescendo-like intensity and discrete "attack" nature seen here. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Diagnosis of Panic Disorder:** Requires recurrent *unexpected* panic attacks followed by at least **one month** of persistent concern about future attacks or behavioral changes. * **Physical Mimics:** Always rule out Medical emergencies like Myocardial Infarction (MI), Pheochromocytoma, or Hyperthyroidism. * **Treatment:** * **Acute episode:** Benzodiazepines (e.g., Alprazolam, Lorazepam). * **Long-term/Prophylaxis:** SSRIs (Drug of Choice) + Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). * **Associated Symptom:** **Agoraphobia** (fear of places where escape might be difficult) frequently co-occurs with Panic Disorder.

Q: What is agoraphobia?

Fear of open spaces. **Explanation:** **Agoraphobia** is characterized by an intense fear or anxiety triggered by real or anticipated exposure to a wide range of situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of developing panic-like symptoms. While the literal Greek translation is "fear of the marketplace," in a clinical context, it most commonly refers to the **fear of open spaces** (Option A), such as parking lots, bridges, or large open fields. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **B. Fear of closed spaces:** This is known as **Claustrophobia**. While agoraphobics may avoid small enclosed places (like elevators) because they feel trapped, the core of claustrophobia is the specific fear of the confinement itself. * **C. Fear of heights:** This is termed **Acrophobia**. * **D. Fear of crowded places:** This is **Enochlophobia** (or Demophobia). While agoraphobia often involves avoiding crowds, the diagnosis requires fear in at least two different situations (e.g., open spaces AND public transport). **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **DSM-5 Criteria:** Agoraphobia is now a **standalone diagnosis**, independent of Panic Disorder. However, there is a strong comorbidity; many patients develop agoraphobia as a "protective" mechanism following a panic attack. * **Required Situations:** Diagnosis requires marked fear about $\geq 2$ of the following: using public transport, being in open spaces, being in enclosed places, standing in line/crowds, or being outside the home alone. * **Treatment:** The gold standard is **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)** with **Exposure Therapy**. Pharmacotherapy typically involves **SSRIs** (first-line). * **Gender:** It is significantly more common in females (approx. 2:1 ratio).

Q: What is the most common disorder associated with Panic Attack?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). **Explanation:** The correct answer is **Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)**. Panic attacks are characterized by sudden, intense episodes of fear accompanied by physical symptoms (palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath). While panic attacks are the hallmark of Panic Disorder, they occur across various psychiatric conditions. According to epidemiological data and clinical studies (including DSM-5 criteria), **PTSD** has the highest prevalence of comorbid panic attacks. In PTSD, these attacks are often triggered by internal or external cues related to the traumatic event (re-experiencing), leading to a state of chronic autonomic hyperarousal. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD):** While anxiety is a core component, panic attacks are less frequent here than in PTSD. The focus is primarily on obsessions and compulsions. * **Depression:** Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is frequently comorbid with panic attacks (anxious distress specifier), but the association is statistically less frequent than in trauma-related disorders. * **Schizophrenia:** Panic attacks can occur during psychotic episodes or as a reaction to hallucinations, but they are not a primary or defining feature of the illness. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Panic Disorder vs. Panic Attack:** A panic attack is a *symptom*; Panic Disorder is a *diagnosis* requiring recurrent, unexpected attacks and at least one month of persistent worry about future attacks. * **Medical Mimics:** Always rule out hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, and SVT before diagnosing a primary anxiety disorder. * **Drug of Choice:** SSRIs are the first-line long-term treatment for both Panic Disorder and PTSD. Benzodiazepines (e.g., Alprazolam) are used only for acute symptomatic relief.

Q: What is the most common type of phobia?

Specific phobia. **Explanation:** **Specific Phobia** is the correct answer because it is statistically the most common type of phobia and, in fact, the **most common anxiety disorder** in the general population. It involves an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation (e.g., animals, heights, blood-injection-injury). According to epidemiological data, the lifetime prevalence of specific phobias is approximately 10–12%. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **B. Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder):** While very common (lifetime prevalence ~7–12%), it ranks second to specific phobias. It is characterized by a persistent fear of social or performance situations where one might be scrutinized by others. * **C. Agoraphobia:** This involves fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable (e.g., crowds, open spaces). It is less common than specific and social phobias and is frequently associated with Panic Disorder. * **D. Claustrophobia:** This is a fear of enclosed spaces. It is not a separate diagnostic category but is actually a **subtype of Specific Phobia** (Situational type). **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Gender Predominance:** Most phobias are more common in **females**, except for Blood-Injection-Injury phobia, which shows a more equal gender distribution. * **Blood-Injection-Injury Phobia:** Unique because it often leads to a **vasovagal response** (bradycardia and hypotension/fainting), whereas other phobias typically cause tachycardia. * **Treatment of Choice:** **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)** with **Exposure Therapy** (Systematic Desensitization or Flooding) is the gold standard for specific phobias. Pharmacotherapy (like SSRIs) is more commonly used for Social Phobia and Agoraphobia.

Q: Acrophobia is defined as:

Fear of heights. **Explanation:** **Acrophobia** is a specific phobia characterized by an irrational and extreme fear of **heights**. The term is derived from the Greek word *'akron'*, meaning summit or edge. Patients with acrophobia experience significant anxiety or panic attacks when at an elevation, often leading to the avoidance of stairs, balconies, or high floors. **Analysis of Options:** * **Option A (Fear of being trapped):** This describes **Agoraphobia**. It involves anxiety about being in situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of developing panic-like symptoms. * **Option C (Fear of animals):** This is known as **Zoophobia**. Specific animal phobias (e.g., Cynophobia for dogs, Ophidiophobia for snakes) are among the most common specific phobias. * **Option D (Fear of closed spaces):** This is **Claustrophobia**. It is a common specific phobia where individuals fear confinement in small, enclosed areas like elevators or MRI machines. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** 1. **Treatment of Choice:** For specific phobias like acrophobia, the most effective treatment is **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)** with **Systemic Desensitization** or **Exposure Therapy** (specifically *In-vivo* exposure). 2. **Pharmacotherapy:** Benzodiazepines or Beta-blockers (Propranolol) may be used for short-term symptomatic relief of performance-related anxiety but are not first-line for long-term management. 3. **Epidemiology:** Specific phobias are more common in females and usually have an onset in early childhood or adolescence. 4. **Diagnosis:** According to DSM-5, the fear must be out of proportion to the actual danger and persist for **6 months or more**.

Q: Who proposed the concept of positive reinforcement?

B. F. Skinner. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **B. F. Skinner**. Skinner is the father of **Operant Conditioning**, a learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences. He introduced the concept of **Positive Reinforcement**, which occurs when a behavior is followed by a rewarding stimulus (reinforcer), thereby increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. In psychiatry, this concept is fundamental to understanding substance use disorders (the "high" reinforces drug-taking) and is utilized in behavioral therapies like **Token Economies**. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Lorenz:** Konrad Lorenz is known for **Ethology**, specifically the concept of **Imprinting** (the rapid learning process in newborn animals to follow a parental figure). * **C. Seligman:** Martin Seligman proposed the theory of **Learned Helplessness**, which is a core psychological model for **Depression**. He observed that dogs subjected to inescapable shocks eventually stopped trying to escape even when the opportunity arose. * **D. Abraham Maslow:** Maslow is famous for the **Hierarchy of Needs**, culminating in **Self-actualization**. His work focuses on humanistic psychology rather than behavioral conditioning. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Negative Reinforcement:** Removal of an aversive stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., taking an aspirin to remove a headache). This is the primary mechanism in **OCD** (compulsions reduce anxiety). * **Punishment:** An unpleasant consequence intended to *decrease* a behavior. * **Classical Conditioning:** Proposed by **Ivan Pavlov** (learning by association/pairing), which explains the development of **Phobias**.

Q: All of the following may present as anxiety except:

Hypothyroidism. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **Hypothyroidism**. In clinical psychiatry, it is crucial to differentiate primary anxiety disorders from secondary anxiety caused by underlying medical conditions. **1. Why Hypothyroidism is the correct answer:** Hypothyroidism typically presents with **psychomotor retardation**, lethargy, depression, and cognitive slowing ("myxedema madness"). It is associated with a "slowing down" of metabolic processes. In contrast, it is **Hyperthyroidism** (thyrotoxicosis) that classically mimics anxiety, presenting with palpitations, tremors, diaphoresis, and restlessness. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Pheochromocytoma:** This catecholamine-secreting tumor causes episodic releases of adrenaline and noradrenaline. This leads to the "classic triad" of headache, sweating, and tachycardia, which is clinically indistinguishable from a **Panic Attack**. * **Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE):** Seizures originating in the limbic system can manifest as "ictal fear" or intense autonomic arousal. Patients may experience sudden, unprovoked anxiety or a sense of dread as an aura. * **Hypoglycemia:** A drop in blood glucose triggers a sympathetic "fight or flight" response (epinephrine release) to mobilize glucose. This results in anxiety, shakiness, palpitations, and confusion. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **High-Yield Rule:** "Hyper" states (Hyperthyroidism, Hyperparathyroidism) and "Hypo" states (Hypoglycemia, Hyponatremia) often present with neuropsychiatric symptoms. * **Differential Diagnosis:** Always rule out **caffeine intoxication**, **alcohol withdrawal**, and **cardiac arrhythmias** (like SVT) in any patient presenting with new-onset panic symptoms. * **Vitamin Deficiency:** Vitamin B12 deficiency can also present with anxiety and psychosis before neurological signs appear.

Question 1

Along with a pleasant stimulus, noxious stimuli are given in the treatment of alcohol dependence or sexual disorder. This is which of the following types of behavior therapy?

Accepted Answer

Aversion therapy

Answer

Negative reinforcement

Answer

Punishment

Answer

Flooding

Question 2

A patient presented in casualty with a history of sudden palpitation, sensation of impending doom, and constriction in his chest. This lasted for about 10-15 minutes after which he recovered. What is the likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Panic attack

Answer

Phobia

Answer

Personality disorder

Answer

Generalized Anxiety disorder

Question 3

Anxiety states can be induced by all of the following except?

Accepted Answer

Cholecystokinin

Answer

Yohimbine

Answer

Sodium Lactate

Answer

Isoproterenol

Question 4

What is agoraphobia?

Accepted Answer

Fear of open spaces

Answer

Fear of closed spaces

Answer

Fear of heights

Answer

Fear of crowded places

Question 5

What is the most common disorder associated with Panic Attack?

Accepted Answer

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Answer

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Answer

Depression

Answer

Schizophrenia

Question 6

What is the most common type of phobia?

Accepted Answer

Specific phobia

Answer

Social phobia

Answer

Agoraphobia

Answer

Claustrophobia

Question 7

Acrophobia is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Fear of heights

Answer

Fear of being trapped in a place where escape is difficult

Answer

Fear of animals

Answer

Fear of closed spaces

Question 8

Who proposed the concept of positive reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

B. F. Skinner

Answer

Lorenz

Answer

Seligman

Answer

Abraham Maslow

Question 9

Agoraphobia is typically seen in patients experiencing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Panic attacks

Answer

Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer

Social anxiety disorder

Answer

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Question 10

All of the following may present as anxiety except:

Accepted Answer

Hypothyroidism

Answer

Pheochromocytoma

Answer

Temporal lobe epilepsy

Answer

Hypoglycaemia

Anxiety Disorders — MCQs

Anxiety Disorders — MCQs

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