Poor anxiety management leads people to function...

The argument contains two facts and our job is to use these facts to draw some sort of an inference. On the GMAT test an inference is something that must be true in light of the stated premises. Some users below have asked whether answer choice (A) might be a good choice if it were an assumption question. However, this problem cannot be an assumption question because there is no conclusion. Without a conclusion, we cannot attempt to determine what the assumption is.

Answer choice (A) is not stated in the text. To think that answer choice A is correct, we would have to assume that short-term psychotherapy only offers anxiety management. However, the text does not say that. Eliminate this choice.
Answer choice (B) is not stated in the text. If anything, the text seems to imply that psychotherapy is more useful and effective than psychoanalysis is.
Answer choice (C) may be tempting for some people. However, the text says that poor anxiety management makes people function less effectively in their jobs. It does not say that this is the one and only possible cause for ineffectiveness in a job. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that (C) is the best answer.
Answer choice (D) is the best answer. It is fully supported by the second premise in the argument.
Answer choice (E) is not stated in the text. We have no way of determining whether concrete techniques are better because this information is not in the text.

It finally comes down to option C and D. Looking at the conditional reasoning as stated in stimulus:
Poor anxiety management (sufficient condition) - > less effective at Job and relationships. (necessary condition)


Option C states: Good Anxiety management --> better at Job and Relationship. This does not follow above. Hence is incorrect.

Option D: Stands strong, hence the answer.

Hope that helps.

Hi experts,
Please help to explain why A is wrong. THanks

A)People who can manage their anxiety reasonably well have no need for short term psychotherapy. We do not know that short term psychotherapy is only used to manage anxiety. There could be other disorders for which short term psychotherapy is used. This is not supported by the stimulus. Eliminate.

B)Psychoanalysis is more useful in promoting long-term change than is psychotherapy. The stimulus states that psychoanalysis has a more "profound effect" ie; more intense effect than psychotherapy - we do not know if it was more long term. Eliminate.

C)If people can manage their anxiety well, they are able to be effective at work and in relationships. The stimulus states that poor anxiety management (X) --> function less effectively in jobs and relationships (Y). When X --> Y, then Not (X) does not necessarily mean Not (Y). We do not know that anxiety is the only cause for people being ineffective at work and in relationships. Eliminate.

D)Short-term psychotherapy may help some people to manage their anxiety. Correct answer. The stimulus states short-term psychotherapy "can teach some concrete techniques for managing anxiety".

E)Concrete techniques are better for anxiety management than is theoretical work. There is nothing in the stimulus about theoretical work. We cannot infer this from the facts given. Eliminate.

Hope this helps.