Behavior therapies are generally not considered useful in treating which of the following conditions?

• A. Panic disorder
• B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• C. Schizophrenia
• D. Specific phobias

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of behavior therapies, which focus on modifying maladaptive behaviors through conditioning techniques such as systematic desensitization, exposure therapy, and reinforcement strategies.
2. Step 2: Recognize that behavior therapies are particularly effective for anxiety-related disorders like panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and specific phobias because these conditions involve learned behaviors and responses that can be unlearned or modified.
3. Step 3: Consider the characteristics of schizophrenia, which is a complex psychotic disorder involving symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive impairments, often requiring a combination of medication and psychosocial interventions rather than behavior therapy alone.
4. Step 4: Analyze why behavior therapies are generally not considered useful for schizophrenia, as the disorder's symptoms are less about learned behaviors and more about neurobiological and cognitive dysfunctions that behavior therapy does not directly address.
5. Step 5: Conclude that among the options given, behavior therapies are least effective for schizophrenia compared to panic disorder, OCD, and specific phobias, which are more amenable to behavioral interventions.