11. Anxiety

Question 1

What a re the symptoms of anxiety?

Answer 1

Palpitations
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Dry mouth
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea or abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, faint or light-headed

Question 2

What is contained in the limbic system?

Answer 2

Hippocampal formation
Septal area
Amygdala
+/- prefrontal cortex and cingulate gyrus

Question 3

What is the hippocampus involved in?

Answer 3

Memory and expressions of emotion

Question 4

What is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 4

Drive related behaviours and processing of associated emotions

Question 5

What are the effects of benzodiazepines in anxiety?

Answer 5

GABA levels are decreased in cortex in patients with panic disorder
Benzodiazepines increase GABA transmission so reduce anxiety

Question 6

What are the effects of serotonin in anxiety?

Answer 6

Increased levels of serotonin (due to SSRIs) may stimulate serotonin receptors in hippocampus
Leads to neuroprotection, neurogenesis and reduction of anxiety

Question 7

What is the main treatment for anxiety disorders?

Answer 7

SSRIs
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Can used pregabalin- a GABA analogue
Don’t use benzodiazepine long term

Question 8

What is the treatment of OCD?

Answer 8

Cognitive behavioural therapy
Exposure response prevention 
High dose SSRIs
Antipsychotics - clomipramine
Deep brain stimulation

Question 9

What is the treatment for PTSD?

Answer 9

CBT

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)