In DSM-5, the phobias Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, and Social Phobia no longer require what recognition from adults?

In DSM-5, the phobias Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, and Social Phobia no longer require what recognition from adults?

• A. Recognition that anxiety is realistic
• B. Recognition that anxiety is excessive or unreasonable
• C. Recognition that symptoms are episodic
• D. Recognition that therapy is needed

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that DSM-5 removed the requirement that people with agoraphobia, specific phobia, or social phobia must recognize that their fear is excessive or unreasonable. This shift means a diagnosis can be made based on a marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation, with avoidance or severe distress and impairment, even if the person does not see the fear as irrational. This is especially important for children or individuals with limited insight, who can still meet criteria through their functional impairment. So recognizing that the fear is excessive or unreasonable is no longer needed for the diagnosis. The other ideas—feeling that the fear is realistic, the symptoms being episodic, or therapy being needed—are not diagnostic criteria for these phobias.

The key idea is that DSM-5 removed the requirement that people with agoraphobia, specific phobia, or social phobia must recognize that their fear is excessive or unreasonable. This shift means a diagnosis can be made based on a marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation, with avoidance or severe distress and impairment, even if the person does not see the fear as irrational. This is especially important for children or individuals with limited insight, who can still meet criteria through their functional impairment. So recognizing that the fear is excessive or unreasonable is no longer needed for the diagnosis. The other ideas—feeling that the fear is realistic, the symptoms being episodic, or therapy being needed—are not diagnostic criteria for these phobias.