Although agoraphobia is more often seen in treatment than the other types of phobia, it is not believed to be as common as simple phobia. Taken together, the phobias are believed to afflict 5 to 10 persons in 100. Agoraphobia and simple phobia are more commonly diagnosed in women than in men; the distribution for social phobia is not known. Agoraphobias, social phobias, and animal phobias tend to run in families.
Behavioral techniques have proved successful in treating phobias, especially simple and social phobias. One technique, systematic desensitization, involves gradually confronting the phobic person with situations or objects that are increasingly close to the feared ones. Exposure therapy, another behavioral method, has recently been shown more affective. In this technique, phobics are repeatedly exposed to the feared situation or object so that they can see that no harm befalls them; the fear gradually fades. Antianxiety drugs have also been used as palliatives. Antidepressant drugs have also proved successful in treating some phobias.
1. According to the passage, a phobic person has fear
A) because he thinks life is terrible.
B) because the things before him are really fearful.
C) even if he knows that his fear is unnecessary.
D) for he is always threatened by others.
2. All the following symptoms may be experienced by a phobic EXCETP
A) sweating.
B) trembling.
C) forgetting things.
D) feeling like vomiting.
3. When faced with the object or situation they are afraid of, most phobics
A) try to stay away from the object or situation.
B) try to pick up courage and fight the object or situation.
C) go to their doctors so as to gain freedom.
D) know that their fears are the same with other forms of anxiety.
4. People suffering from agoraphobia may be afraid of
A) staying with dogs and cats.
B) taking the bus in rush hours.
C) standing on top of a high building.
D) staying alone at home.
5. Systematic desensitization and exposure therapy are similar ways of treating phobias
A) because both involve gradual exposure of phobics to fear stimuli
B) because both are behavioral methods.
C) because both use antianxiety drugs.
D) because both use antidepressant drugs.
KEY: CCABB