Rahim constantly keeps worrying about his future all the time, and has apprehensions about his admission, to any college. Rahim also constantly scans his environment for danger. Which type of psychological disorders is reflected in Rahim's case?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Generalised anxiety disorder
Option (1) Panic disorder — Incorrect. Panic disorder consists of recurrent anxiety attacks in which the person suddenly experiences intense terror. Rahim’s worry is constant, not a series of sudden attacks.
Option (2) Specific Phobia — Incorrect. A specific phobia is an irrational fear of a particular object or situation, such as a certain animal. Rahim’s worry is about his future in general, not about one object.
Option (3) Agoraphobia — Incorrect. Agoraphobia is a fear of entering unfamiliar situations, so that many sufferers are afraid of leaving home. Nothing in the case speaks of such avoidance.
Option (4) Generalised anxiety disorder — Correct. Generalised anxiety disorder consists of prolonged, vague, unexplained and intense fears not attached to any particular object. Its symptoms include worry and apprehensive feelings about the future, which fits Rahim’s worry about his admission, and hypervigilance, constantly scanning the environment for dangers, which is what Rahim does when he constantly scans his environment for danger.
NCERT (2025-26): “Anxiety Disorders … There are many types of anxiety disorders (see Table 4.1). They include generalised anxiety disorder, which consists of prolonged, vague, unexplained and intense fears that are not attached to any particular object. The symptoms include worry and apprehensive feelings about the future; hypervigilance, which involves constantly scanning the environment for dangers. It is marked by motor tension, as a result of which the person is unable to relax, is restless, and visibly shaky and tense. Another type of anxiety disorder is panic disorder, which consists of recurrent anxiety attacks in which the person experiences intense terror.…” “Anxiety Disorders … Specific phobias are the most commonly occurring type of phobia. This group includes irrational fears such as intense fear of a certain type of animal, or of being in an enclosed space. Intense and incapacitating fear and embarrassment when dealing with others characterises social anxiety disorder (social phobia). Agoraphobia is the term used when people develop a fear of entering unfamiliar situations. Many people with agoraphobia are afraid of leaving their home.…” |