Fear of closed places is termed as

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Claustrophobia is the specific term for an intense, irrational fear of enclosed or confined spaces.
This is a type of anxiety disorder known as a specific phobia.
Individuals with claustrophobia may experience panic attacks when in places like elevators, small rooms, tunnels, or MRI machines.
The fear is disproportionate to the actual danger posed by the situation.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Gamaphobia is the fear of marriage or commitment, not closed spaces.
Option B: Acrophobia is the fear of heights, not closed spaces.
Option D: Hamartophobia is the fear of sinning or making errors. It is not related to physical spaces.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Specific Phobias as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding specific phobias is crucial for nurses, as they can significantly impact patient care. For example, a patient with claustrophobia may refuse a medically necessary MRI scan.
Nurses must be able to recognize signs of a phobic reaction (e.g., panic attack symptoms like tachycardia, sweating, shortness of breath) and intervene appropriately with calming techniques and reassurance.
What if? If a patient with known claustrophobia requires an MRI, the nurse should advocate for alternatives if possible (like an open MRI), or work with the healthcare team to provide sedation and support to help the patient tolerate the procedure.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of psychiatric terminology.
First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'fear of closed places'.
Next, recall or deduce the Greek/Latin roots of the options if possible. 'Claustrum' is Latin for 'a shut-in place'.
Systematically evaluate each option's definition.
Match the definition 'fear of closed spaces' with the correct term, which is claustrophobia.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their definitions (fear of marriage, heights, sinning).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Specific Phobias
Stem keywords: Fear, closed places
Lead-in keywords: termed as
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q8Vw08wQ4K6hvwTe_IxJkk

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 3869-3872

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