11 Childhood 2 – Anxiety Flashcards
Which disorders in DSM-IV were specific to children?
Only Separation Anxiety Disorder (no longer specific to children in DSM-5)
What is a problem with diagnosing kids with anxiety disorders?
The discriminant validity of the categories is much lower for kids than for adults. Symptoms are much less clear-cut.
In what order are anxiety disorders listed in the DSM-5?
According to usual age of onset.
What is the usual age of onset for…
Specific Phobia
Agoraphobia
GAD?
Specific phobia –around 10
Agoraphobia - late 20s
GAD - early 30s
How long must symptoms persist for diagnosis with an anxiety disorder in DSM-5?
At least 6 months in adults. At least 4 weeks in kids for Separation Anxiety Disorder.
How might overprotective parenting exacerbate Separation Anxiety?
Child seems to need more care. But anxiety is maintained by avoidance. Parents thus cause anxious behaviours to exacerbate.
Which children are more susceptible to developing Separation Anxiety Disorder? Three factors.
- Those exposed to stress.
- Those with inherited tendency towards neuroticism.
- Those with overprotective parents.
How common is Generalised Anxiety Disorder in children?
Very rare. Usual onset is after 30.
Why might the GAD criteria not be applicable to children?
People with GAD say they’ve had it all their lives, yet the condition is very rare in children. Perhaps DSM criteria don’t tap into how GAD is expressed in children.
According to Vasey (1993), what two things to children need to be able to do in able to worry?
1) imagine chains of catastrophic outcomes –what if?
2) switch from imagery to verbal thinking
This happens around age of 7-8.
What is Borkovec’s cognitive avoidance theory of worry?
Catastrophic mental images are replaced by less distressing, less somatically activating verbal linguistic activity. Thus, worry is negatively reinforced by the removal of aversive and fearful images. And the inhibition of somatic and emotional experience precludes the emotional processing of fear that is theoretically needed for successful habituation and extinction.
One reason why adults might be more inclined to problem-solve their anxiety than children?
Children’s worries are less probable – meteorite, wars, earthquakes –but more serious. Problem-solving is not plausible.
Which of the GAD symptoms might be more applicable to adults?
The muscle tension/difficulty relaxing criteria – more adulty symptoms.
SSRIs have proven efficacy for which anxiety disorder?
OCD and nothing else –even though prescribed for other disorders.
