Question

Becky was the successful manager of a busy flower shop when she began to have panic attacks. At first, she only had them while out with her friends, so she stopped going out with her friends. Then she began having them in her car, so she stopped driving and had her roommate drive her to work everyday. Eventually, though, Becky began having panic attacks while at work. Because the fear and anxiety was so overwhelming, she stopped going to work and eventually got fired. Over the last month, Becky has been unable to leave her house because of the intense fear that another panic attack will surface. Becky likely suffers from ________.
A) conversion disorder
B) panic disorder with agoraphobia
C) specific phobia
D) panic disorder

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is: B) Panic disorder with Agoraphobia.

Explanation:

Panic disorder is a mental disorder characterized by a recurrent appearance of panic attacks. For a person to be diagnosed with panic disorder, he/she must have suffered at least 2 panic attacks in the last month. In addition to the recurrent panic attacks, the person also suffers from a persistent fear that they will suffer from another attack, thus they start eliciting avoidance behavior.

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by the intense fear of public settings or situations in which the person feels vulnerable to the environment. People with agoraphobia usually avoid leaving their homes.

In this particular case, Becky exhibits symptoms of both Panic disorder and Agoraphobia.