Read the passage and answer the following question:
Raunak always used to dislike and be afraid of reptiles. Once he was trying to wear his shoes when a lizard jumped out of it. Since then he started getting scared of lizards all the more. He could not control his fear when he saw a snake in his garden. His heart started pounding, he was sweating badly, he even fainted once when someone told him that there is a lizard under his chair. The very thought of any of these reptiles generates in him an extreme level of fear. His mother took him to a doctor, who suggested that Raunak should meet a psychotherapist.
______ is also a type of anxiety disorder.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Panic disorder
Option (1) Somatic symptom disorder — Incorrect. It belongs to the somatic symptom and related disorders: the person has persistent body-related symptoms, is overly preoccupied with them and keeps visiting doctors. The main concern is the body, not fear and worry.
Option (2) Panic disorder — Correct. Another type of anxiety disorder is panic disorder, which consists of recurrent anxiety attacks in which the person experiences intense terror. A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense anxiety, with shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, palpitations and a fear of going crazy, losing control or dying.
Option (3) Obsessive-Compulsive disorder — Incorrect. OCD has its own category, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. The person cannot stop thinking about a particular idea (obsession) or cannot stop repeating a particular act such as washing or checking (compulsion).
Option (4) Depressive disorder — Incorrect. Major depressive disorder is a period of depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, with symptoms such as sleep problems, tiredness and feelings of worthlessness. It is a disorder of mood, listed under depressive disorders.
NCERT (2025-26): “Anxiety Disorders … Another type of anxiety disorder is panic disorder, which consists of recurrent anxiety attacks in which the person experiences intense terror. A panic attack denotes an abrupt surge of intense anxiety rising to a peak when thoughts of a particular stimuli are present. Such thoughts occur in an unpredictable manner. The clinical features include shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, palpitations, choking, nausea, chest pain or discomfort, fear of going crazy, losing control or dying.…” “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders … People affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas or are unable to prevent themselves from repeatedly carrying out a particular act or series of acts that affect their ability to carry out normal activities. Obsessive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic. The person involved, often finds these thoughts to be unpleasant and shameful. Compulsive behaviour is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again. Many compulsions deal with counting, ordering, checking, touching and washing.…” |