Anxiety disorders: blood-injury phobia: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Anxiety disorders: blood-injury phobia

Sample item

A man faints when he sees blood during venepuncture. His pulse falls and blood pressure drops, unlike other phobias. Which technique is specifically useful?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Applied tension

Blood-injury-injection phobia is unique in producing a vasovagal response with bradycardia and hypotension, leading to fainting. Applied tension, tensing the muscles to raise blood pressure, is combined with graded exposure. Relaxation and beta-blockers can worsen the fall in blood pressure.

Option by option

  • A. Flooding with relaxation

    Flooding with relaxation does not address the vasovagal reflex.

  • B. Relaxation training only

    Relaxation can lower blood pressure further and promote fainting.

  • C. Beta-blocker therapy

    Beta-blockers may worsen bradycardia and the vasovagal tendency.

  • D. Applied tension (correct)

    Correct. Applied tension counters the hypotensive response while exposure proceeds.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Applied tension. Blood-injury-injection phobia is unique in producing a vasovagal response with bradycardia and hypotension, leading to fainting.

Why is "Flooding with relaxation" not the answer?

Flooding with relaxation does not address the vasovagal reflex.

Why is "Relaxation training only" not the answer?

Relaxation can lower blood pressure further and promote fainting.

Why is "Beta-blocker therapy" not the answer?

Beta-blockers may worsen bradycardia and the vasovagal tendency.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety disorders: blood-injury phobia in Psychiatry. Applied tension, tensing the muscles to raise blood pressure, is combined with graded exposure. Relaxation and beta-blockers can worsen the fall in blood pressure.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Anxiety disorders: blood-injury phobia?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.