Phobias are most likely to be characterized by which of the following?

• A. A persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest
• B. Episodes of mania alternating with depression
• C. Disorganized thoughts and hallucinations
• D. An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of a phobia. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.
2. Step 2: Review the options given and identify which symptoms align with phobias. For example, persistent sadness and loss of interest are typical of depression, not phobias.
3. Step 3: Recognize that episodes of mania alternating with depression describe bipolar disorder, which is different from phobias.
4. Step 4: Note that disorganized thoughts and hallucinations are symptoms commonly associated with schizophrenia, not phobias.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the defining feature of phobias is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, which matches the correct answer.