1 a) Open spaces in the country Agoraphobia is often called a fear of open spaces but this is misleading. It is sometimes present, but so is a fear of small, enclosed spaces.
b) Losing control in a crowded public place- Correct. This common fear develops in most people with agoraphobia.
c) Staying at home with someone Staying at home instead of going out is a common problem, but agoraphobics are not usually afraid of it unless they are alone.
d) Being with other people On the contrary, other people can prevent fear (especially familiar people), although crowds may be frightening. BACK TO QUESTIONS

2 a) It can't be controlled very easily No fear, agoraphobic or otherwise can be controlled easily.
b) It causes bodily changes All kinds of fear, agoraphobic or otherwise can cause bodily changes, like your heart beating fast.
c) It is an automatic bodily reaction All kinds of fear, agoraphobic or otherwise involve an automatic bodily reaction.
d) It is the same as fear, but without any real danger.-Correct. There are no obvious differences between the experience of extreme fear and agoraphobic panic, only between the situations which trigger them.BACK TO QUESTIONS

3 a) Association of a reaction with a situation-Correct. 'Conditioning' described the way in which everyone learns to react automatically to particular things or places.
b) Learning to be afraid Learning to be afraid of some situations would be an example of conditioning, but the question asked for the meaning of conditioning in general.
c) An oversensitive state following an illness No, this state may cause panic feelings, but the word 'conditioning' refers to the way the feelings are later attached to particular places.
d) Learning that two things always go together This is not quite accurate, since it does not say anything about how reactions become automatically associated with particular things.BACK TO QUESTIONS

4 a) Keep him away from dogs for a while If you do this, you will leave the conditioned fear untouched, and perhaps to get worse.
b) Tell him to be braver next time. Talking does not usually do anything to reduce conditioned fear, a different kind of experience with a dog is necessary.
c) Give him a sweet to sheer him up This may cheer him up but it will not do anything to reduce the fear - unless perhaps you give him a sweet when he is getting nearer to a dog.
d) Introduce him to a more gentle dog-Correct. This will reduce the conditioned fear and stop it spreading to all dogs, without preventing him from being cautious with the fierce one.BACK TO QUESTIONS

SUMMARY SO FAR
a) A mental disease like schizophrenia No, the two things are quite different, go back and read all again.
b) Due to physical illness The first panic attack may have followed a physical illness, but there is no reason to think that agoraphobics continue to be physically ill in any way. Go back and read all again.
c) A learned emotional reaction-Correct. Although other kinds of behavioural learning occur later (like learning to avoid places) emotional reaction is usually learned first.
d) Caused by lack of will-power It makes no more sense to call it a lack of will-power than it does to say that about someone who jumps when there is a loud noise. Go back and read all again.BACK TO QUESTIONS

5 a) You will find it more and more difficult to go back.-Correct. Avoidance tends to strengthen conditioned fear.
b) In time you will be able to go back without trouble. No, time is likely to have the opposite effect.
c) You should wait until you are well before going back. You are probably as well now as you ever will be, and waiting too long might make it more difficult.
d) You should get someone else to go to the shop for you. If you do this, you will be helping to establish a habit of avoidance and the fear will grow stronger. You would not be helping yourself.BACK TO QUESTIONS

6 a) Acting insanely Agoraphobics often fear that they will act insanely, but never really do.
b) Feeling faint or strange-Correct. These feelings and other of the same sort are very common, and although alarming are quite harmless.
c) Collapse through physical overstrain. Agoraphobics often fear that they may collapse, but they are no more likely to do so than anyone else. Often they get little exercise, so they feel exhausted when they practice, but this does no harm.
d) No special feelings With the exception of those who have given up and never go out, agoraphobics do experience feelings which are unusual for most people in ordinary circumstances.BACK TO QUESTIONS

7 a) It won't give you any more trouble Fears that have got worse over a period of years won't go away as quickly as that.
b) It will be even more difficult next time No, it is usually only the experience of panic attacks or the avoidance of a place that makes going the more difficult. Go back and read it again.
c) It won't have made any difference It may not make any obvious difference right away in all cases, but on average it is likely to reduce the fear.
d) It will probably be slightly easier next time-Correct. It will not always be obvious right away, since there are bound to be ups and downs but on the average it will tend to get easier each time.BACK TO QUESTIONS

8 a) They will get rid of all the feelings of fear No tranquilliser can get rid of fear, although they do reduce it for a while. However, the question aimed at long term usefulness.
b) People become dependant on them for going out Getting dependent is usually only a problem if they are taken regularly for a long while. In any case, the question asked why they were useful.
c) They build confidence for practise without tranquillisers-Correct. The most important use of tranquillisers is to reduce fear for a while, until enough confidence is gained to do the same practice without them.
d) They give something for people to rely on in an emergency. Some people do rely on tranquillisers for 'emergencies' but that is not a good idea as a rule. In this treatment, they are used only as part of practice.BACK TO QUESTIONS

SUMMARY OF TREATMENT PLAN SO FAR
a) Doing things one step at a time.This is a good thing to recommend for someone with agoraphobia, as it builds up confidence for more difficult items. The question asked which was the wrong thing.
b) Taking tranquillisers before some practice sessions.This does help when new and difficult items are practised for the first time, so it could not be the wrong thing to recommend.
c) Practice in going out every day.It is only by practice in facing the feared situations that the fear will be overcome and it is important to get into the habit of doing this daily, so this cannot be wrong.
d) Having help from others with things like shopping-Correct. It is not helpful in the long run to get someone else to do the shopping. It simply makes it easy for you to stay at home, and makes the habit avoidance stronger.BACK TO QUESTIONS

Created and Managed by Webmaster, at Internet Support Services Australia Pty Ltd.Last updated 24 May 2000