DSM-5: ANXIETY DISORDERS &
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE AND
RELATED DISORDERS. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Anxiety disorders share features of... - ANS excessive fear/anxiety and related behavioral
disturbances
Define fear - ANS the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat
Define anxiety - ANS anticipation of future threat
How do fear and anxiety differ? - ANS fear is more often associated with surges of ANS
fight/flight arousal, thoughts of immediate danger and escape behaviors, whereas anxiety is
more often associated with muscle tension and vigilance in preparation for future danger and
cautious/avoidant behaviors
Sometimes the level of fear/anxiety is reduced by what? - ANS pervasive avoidance behaviors
What are panic attacks? - ANS a particular type of fear response prominent within anxiety
disorders, but can also be seen in other mental disorders as well
Do anxiety disorders tend to be highly comorbid with each other? - ANS Yes
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,How can we differentiate between types of anxiety disorders? - ANS close examination of the
types of situations that are feared/avoided and the content of the associated thoughts/beliefs
How do anxiety disorders differ from developmentally normative fear/anxiety? - ANS the
fear/anxiety is excessive/persisting beyond developmentally appropriate periods
How do anxiety disorders differ from transient fear/anxiety? - ANS transient is often stress-
induced while disorders are persistent (typically lasting 6+ mo)
What is the primary determination by the clinician in regards to diagnosing individuals with
anxiety disorders? - ANS since individuals with anxiety disorders overestimate the danger in
situations they fear/avoid, the clinician must determine whether the fear/anxiety is excessive or
out of proportion by taking cultural contextual factors into account
True or false: Many of the anxiety disorders develop in childhood and tend to resolve on their
own with time. - ANS False; many of the anxiety disorders develop in childhood and tend to
persist if not treated
How is the anxiety disorders chapter arranged in the DSM-5? - ANS developmentally, with
disorders sequenced according to the typical age at onset
What is separation anxiety characterized by? - ANS fearful/anxious about separation from
attachment figures to a degree that is developmentally inappropriate; persistent fear/anxiety
about harm coming to attachment figures and events that could lead to loss/separation from
attachment figures and reluctance to go away from attachment figures, as well as nightmares
and physical symptoms of distress
True or false: Although the symptoms of separation anxiety often develop in childhood, they can
be expressed throughout adulthood as well. - ANS True
What is selective mutism characterized by? - ANS a consistent failure to speak in social
situations in which there is an expectation to speak (school) even though the individual speaks
in other situations; the failure to speak has significant consequences on achievement in
academic/occupational settings or interferes with social communication
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, Describe individuals with specific phobia - ANS fearful/anxious about or avoidant of
circumscribed objects/situations; the fear/anxiety/avoidance is almost always immediately
induced by the phobic situation to a degree that is persistent and out of proportion to the
actual risk posed; there are various types: animal, natural environment, blood-injection-injury,
situational, and other
Do individuals with specific phobia experience a specific cognitive ideation? - ANS no; a
specific cognitive ideation is not featured in this disorder as it is in other anxiety disorders
Describe social anxiety disorder - ANS aka social phobia; the individual is
fearful/anxious/avoidant of social interactions/situations that involve the possibility of being
scrutinized; including meeting unfamiliar people, situations in which the individual may be
observed eating/drinking, and situations that involve the individual performing in front of
others; cognitive ideation is of being negatively evaluated by others, being embarrassed,
humiliated, rejected, or offending others
What does an individual with panic disorder experience? - ANS recurrent unexpected panic
attacks and is persistently concerned/worried about having more panic attacks or changes
behavior in maladaptive ways because of the panic attacks (e.g., avoidance of exercise or of
unfamiliar locations)
What are panic attacks? - ANS abrupt surges of intense fear/discomfort that reach a peak
within minutes, accompanied by physical and/or cognitive symptoms
What are limited-symptom panic attacks? - ANS include fewer than 4 sx
Panic attacks may be ____ or ____ - ANS expected or unexpected
What are expected panic attacks? - ANS occur in response to a typically feared
object/situation
Define unexpected panic attacks - ANS the panic attack occurs for no apparent reason
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE AND
RELATED DISORDERS. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Anxiety disorders share features of... - ANS excessive fear/anxiety and related behavioral
disturbances
Define fear - ANS the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat
Define anxiety - ANS anticipation of future threat
How do fear and anxiety differ? - ANS fear is more often associated with surges of ANS
fight/flight arousal, thoughts of immediate danger and escape behaviors, whereas anxiety is
more often associated with muscle tension and vigilance in preparation for future danger and
cautious/avoidant behaviors
Sometimes the level of fear/anxiety is reduced by what? - ANS pervasive avoidance behaviors
What are panic attacks? - ANS a particular type of fear response prominent within anxiety
disorders, but can also be seen in other mental disorders as well
Do anxiety disorders tend to be highly comorbid with each other? - ANS Yes
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How can we differentiate between types of anxiety disorders? - ANS close examination of the
types of situations that are feared/avoided and the content of the associated thoughts/beliefs
How do anxiety disorders differ from developmentally normative fear/anxiety? - ANS the
fear/anxiety is excessive/persisting beyond developmentally appropriate periods
How do anxiety disorders differ from transient fear/anxiety? - ANS transient is often stress-
induced while disorders are persistent (typically lasting 6+ mo)
What is the primary determination by the clinician in regards to diagnosing individuals with
anxiety disorders? - ANS since individuals with anxiety disorders overestimate the danger in
situations they fear/avoid, the clinician must determine whether the fear/anxiety is excessive or
out of proportion by taking cultural contextual factors into account
True or false: Many of the anxiety disorders develop in childhood and tend to resolve on their
own with time. - ANS False; many of the anxiety disorders develop in childhood and tend to
persist if not treated
How is the anxiety disorders chapter arranged in the DSM-5? - ANS developmentally, with
disorders sequenced according to the typical age at onset
What is separation anxiety characterized by? - ANS fearful/anxious about separation from
attachment figures to a degree that is developmentally inappropriate; persistent fear/anxiety
about harm coming to attachment figures and events that could lead to loss/separation from
attachment figures and reluctance to go away from attachment figures, as well as nightmares
and physical symptoms of distress
True or false: Although the symptoms of separation anxiety often develop in childhood, they can
be expressed throughout adulthood as well. - ANS True
What is selective mutism characterized by? - ANS a consistent failure to speak in social
situations in which there is an expectation to speak (school) even though the individual speaks
in other situations; the failure to speak has significant consequences on achievement in
academic/occupational settings or interferes with social communication
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Describe individuals with specific phobia - ANS fearful/anxious about or avoidant of
circumscribed objects/situations; the fear/anxiety/avoidance is almost always immediately
induced by the phobic situation to a degree that is persistent and out of proportion to the
actual risk posed; there are various types: animal, natural environment, blood-injection-injury,
situational, and other
Do individuals with specific phobia experience a specific cognitive ideation? - ANS no; a
specific cognitive ideation is not featured in this disorder as it is in other anxiety disorders
Describe social anxiety disorder - ANS aka social phobia; the individual is
fearful/anxious/avoidant of social interactions/situations that involve the possibility of being
scrutinized; including meeting unfamiliar people, situations in which the individual may be
observed eating/drinking, and situations that involve the individual performing in front of
others; cognitive ideation is of being negatively evaluated by others, being embarrassed,
humiliated, rejected, or offending others
What does an individual with panic disorder experience? - ANS recurrent unexpected panic
attacks and is persistently concerned/worried about having more panic attacks or changes
behavior in maladaptive ways because of the panic attacks (e.g., avoidance of exercise or of
unfamiliar locations)
What are panic attacks? - ANS abrupt surges of intense fear/discomfort that reach a peak
within minutes, accompanied by physical and/or cognitive symptoms
What are limited-symptom panic attacks? - ANS include fewer than 4 sx
Panic attacks may be ____ or ____ - ANS expected or unexpected
What are expected panic attacks? - ANS occur in response to a typically feared
object/situation
Define unexpected panic attacks - ANS the panic attack occurs for no apparent reason
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
