Modern psychiatrists have debated the most effective approach to treating anxiety disorders. Dr. Michael Rodriguez's research team contends that anxie...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Modern psychiatrists have debated the most effective approach to treating anxiety disorders. Dr. Michael Rodriguez's research team contends that anxiety disorders develop primarily through learned behavioral patterns and are most effectively addressed through therapeutic techniques that modify patient responses to triggering situations. However, Dr. Sarah Chen and her colleagues maintain that this behavioral approach overlooks the fundamental neurochemical basis of anxiety disorders.
Which finding, if true, would most directly challenge Rodriguez's behavioral approach?
Patients show significant improvement when practicing behavioral modification exercises during treatment sessions.
Brain scans reveal that anxiety symptoms persist despite successful completion of behavioral therapy programs.
Clinical studies demonstrate that behavioral therapy works best when combined with lifestyle changes.
Research indicates that different behavioral techniques are effective for different types of anxiety disorders.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Modern psychiatrists have debated the most effective approach to treating anxiety disorders." |
|
| "Dr. Michael Rodriguez's research team contends that anxiety disorders develop primarily through learned behavioral patterns and are most effectively addressed through therapeutic techniques that modify patient responses to triggering situations." |
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| "However, Dr. Sarah Chen and her colleagues maintain that this behavioral approach overlooks the fundamental neurochemical basis of anxiety disorders." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Psychiatrists debate whether anxiety disorders should be treated behaviorally (Rodriguez) or through understanding their neurochemical basis (Chen).
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a debate between two approaches to anxiety treatment. Rodriguez advocates for behavioral modification based on learned patterns, while Chen argues this approach fails to address the underlying brain chemistry involved in anxiety disorders.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Rodriguez believes anxiety disorders come from learned behavioral patterns and should be treated by modifying how patients respond to triggers
- For a finding to challenge this approach, it would need to show that: Behavioral treatments don't actually work effectively, or There's something more fundamental than learned behaviors causing anxiety, or Modifying responses isn't sufficient to address the root problem
- So the right answer should demonstrate that behavioral therapy fails to achieve lasting results or that anxiety has deeper causes that behavioral modification can't address
Patients show significant improvement when practicing behavioral modification exercises during treatment sessions.
- This shows patients improving with behavioral modification exercises
- This would actually support Rodriguez's approach, not challenge it
Brain scans reveal that anxiety symptoms persist despite successful completion of behavioral therapy programs.
- Brain scans showing persistent anxiety symptoms despite successful behavioral therapy completion
- This directly challenges Rodriguez by demonstrating his treatment method leaves underlying problems unresolved
- Matches our prethinking perfectly - shows behavioral therapy isn't sufficient even when it appears to work
Clinical studies demonstrate that behavioral therapy works best when combined with lifestyle changes.
- This suggests behavioral therapy works well when combined with other approaches
- This supports behavioral methods as part of effective treatment, rather than challenging them
Research indicates that different behavioral techniques are effective for different types of anxiety disorders.
- This finding shows that different behavioral techniques work for different anxiety types
- This actually supports the behavioral approach by showing its versatility and effectiveness