ring impulse to perform a seemingly purposeless activity. These persistent fears of specifiing a psychologically traumatic event that is generally outside development of physiological and behavioral symptoms follow-Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the by others and fears social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur (APA, 2000). Exposure to the pho-bic situation is avoided, or it is endured with intense anxiety. Common social phobias include speaking or writing in front of a group of people, eating in the presence of others, and using public restrooms.SpecifiPosttraumatic Stress DisorderFormerly called the part of the individual.obsessions and compulsions serve to prevent extreme anxiety on^162 or images that the individual is unable to ignore and by recur-are fairly widespread among the general population, the most common being fear of animals (zoophobia), fear of closed places (claustrophobia), and fear of heights (acrophobia). Exposure to the phobic stimulus is avoided or endured with intense anxiety.Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderThis disorder is characterized by involuntary recurring thoughts the range of usual human experience. The stressor, which would^ ●^ c PhobiaALTERATIONS IN PSYCHOSOCIAL ADAPTATIONsimple phobia c objects or situations. These phobias , this disorder is characterized by
2 2506_Ch08_161-175.indd 0162 506 Ch 08 161 - 175 .indin the onset of symptoms, the diagnosis is specifiIf duration of the symptoms is 3 months or longer, the diagnosis onset.”Acute Stress DisorderAcute stress disorder is characterized by the development of physiological and behavioral symptoms similar to those of PTSD. The major difference in the diagnoses lies in the length of time the symptoms exist. With acute stress disorder, the symptoms must subside within 4 weeks of occurrence of the stressor. If they last longer than 4 weeks, the individual is given the diagnosis of PTSD. Generalized Anxiety DisorderThis disorder is characterized by chronic, unrealistic, and exces-ally been experienced with intense fear, terror, and helplessness. sive anxiety and worry. The symptoms must have occurred more days than not for at least 6 months and must cause clinically is specifibe considered markedly distressing to almost anyone, has usu-d 0162 ed as “chronic.” If there is a delay of 6 months or longer ed as “delayed 1 10/1/10 9:35:03 AM 0 / 1 / 10 9 : 35 : 03 AM
