Which term refers to the broad class of disorders that includes phobias, social anxiety, panic, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety?

• A. ADHD
• B. DSM-5
• C. Anxiety Disorders
• D. Epigenetics

Answer: (C)

Think about the common feature these conditions share: each involves marked fear or worry that can disrupt thoughts, behavior, and daily functioning. In clinical terms, they are grouped under Anxiety Disorders, a broad class that includes specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. For example, phobias involve intense fear of a specific object or situation; social anxiety disorder centers on fear of social scrutiny; panic disorder is defined by sudden, repeated panic attacks; agoraphobia involves fear of places where escape might be hard; generalized anxiety disorder is chronic, excessive worry across many domains. The other terms aren’t a diagnostic category: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition focused on attention and activity regulation; DSM-5 is the manual that defines and classifies disorders; epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that can influence risk but is not itself a disorder.