Question

A woman becomes increasingly afraid of riding in elevators. One morning, she experiences shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, and trembling while in an elevator. A physician can find no physiological basis for these symptoms and refers her to a psychiatric clinical nurse-specialist for outpatient counseling sessions. Which of the following is most likely to reduce the client's anxiety level?

1. Psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy
2. Group psychotherapy
3. Systematic desensitization
4. Referral for evaluation for electroconvulsive therapy

Answer 1

Psychotherapy, specifically systematic desensitization, is the most likely approach to reduce the client's anxiety level.

Step-by-step explanation:

The woman in this scenario is experiencing symptoms of anxiety while riding in elevators, and a physician has found no physiological basis for these symptoms. The most likely approach to reduce the client's anxiety level is psychotherapy. Among the options given, systematic desensitization is a psychotherapy technique that could be used to help the woman overcome her fear of elevators.