A Psychologist Is Treating a Patient with an Anxiety Disorder

question 96

Essay

A psychologist is treating a patient with an anxiety disorder and wants to measure the patient's anxiety while discussing upcoming feared events as a way of assessing the patient's progress in therapy. The psychologist measures heart rate before, during, and after her patient's discussion. She finds that discussion of the upcoming feared event is associated with increased heart rate, and concludes that her patient has not yet made enough progress in treatment. Discuss the grounds on which such a conclusion would be criticized, and describe what else the psychologist might do to measure her patient's progress.

---

Definitions:

"In-law"

A relative by marriage, typically referring to the spouse's parents, siblings, or their spouses.

Reserved and Quiet

Characteristics of individuals who are naturally inclined to be introspective, preferring to listen rather than speak, and often cautious in social situations.

Distrust

A lack of trust or confidence in someone or something, often stemming from past experiences or perceptions of unreliability.

Respect

An attitude of admiration or deference towards someone or something, often shown by treating them with kindness, honoring their rights, and valuing their contributions.