Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) Practice Exam

A specific phobia is characterized by an intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation. This fear is disproportionate to the actual danger posed by the feared object or situation and leads to significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Individuals with specific phobias often go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation that triggers their fear, which can severely restrict their daily lives.

In contrast, social anxiety disorder involves a fear of social situations where the individual may be scrutinized or judged by others, not simply a fear of a specific object or situation. Other specified depressive disorder pertains to mood disturbances and depressive symptoms that do not meet the full criteria for other depressive diagnoses, and panic disorder is characterized by recurrent panic attacks and a fear of future attacks rather than a specific object. Therefore, the defining features of a disorder involving an irrational fear that disrupts functioning uniquely align with specific phobia.

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