After discharge from the hospital, the patient develops intense fear of being alone. This is known as:

Explanation

•People with phobias develop anticipatory anxiety even when thinking about the possibly encountering the dreaded object or situation. They engage in avoidance behavior that often severely limits their lives.

•A phobia is an illogical, intense, persistent fear of specific object or social attention that causes extreme distress and interferes with normal functioning.

•Obsessions are recurrent, persistent, intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or impulses that cause marked anxiety and interfere with interpersonal, social or occupational function.

•Compulsions are ritualistic or repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person carries out continuously in an attempt to neutralize anxiety.

•Somatization is defined as the transference of mental experiences and states into bodily symptoms.

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