Phobias: The Daily PANCE Blueprint
Which of the following is the first-line treatment for a specific phobia?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Atypical antipsychotics
C. Exposure therapy
D. SSRIs
E. Reassurance
Answer and topic summary
The answer is C. Exposure therapy
Specific phobia is the most common psychiatric disorder in the United States. It is defined as persistent (>6 months) intense fear of a specific situation, object, or place that provokes a reaction, causes fear out of proportion to normal, and makes the person avoid the stimuli. Types of phobias include animals, natural environment, situational, or injury. For most patients newly diagnosed with specific phobia, first-line treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which includes exposure therapy. Beta-blockers or benzodiazepines may be used for the short term, but they are not supposed to be used long term.
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Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:
Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Psychiatry ⇒ ⇒
