2 Anxiety disorders: Generalised Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
What were the changes to anxiety disorders from DSM to DSM-5?
PTSD and acute stress disorder being moved to trauma and stressor-related disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorder was moved to obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
What are the DSM-5 Anxiety Disorders?
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Selective Mutism
- Specific Phobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
- Panic Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Define Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) according to DSM?
Tendency to worry excessively and uncontrollably about a variety of events and outcomes. The worrying is not irrational but is disproportionate to the situation.
What is the DSM criteria for GAD?
- Occurs more days than not for 6 months
- Not explained by a normal situation
- Requires at least 3/6 of the following symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance -> does not include autonomic arousal
Also: Need to distinguish from other disorders that also involve excessive worry
What is classified as normal worry?
Occurs in response to perceived future which is usually physical (in older adults) or social (in young adults). it tends to be compromised of more verbal thoughts rather than imagery. This type of worry has positive aspects such as motivation, problem-solving, avoiding negative outcomes, distraction. Attempts to control worry usually involve problem-solving, distraction or social support
What are the perceived positive aspects of normal worry?
Egosyntonic (acceptable to the self), has positive aspects by motivating action, helps to problem solve, avoid negative outcomes, distract from more distressing topics (Dugas et al, 1998, Freeston et al, 1994)
What are the perceived negative aspects of normal worry?
Egodystonic (unacceptable to the self)
What is Davey, 1994’s theory of causation in GAD?
Problem-solving theory
- Worry involves problem-solving events. In pathological worrying, this process is thwarted
- Biased threat perception triggers more worries; (every time you see a problem, you something that may be wrong with it and more evidence is needed if a solution is to be accepted)
- Social problem solving (D’Zurilla & Maydeu-Olivares, 1995)
What is Borkovec, 1994’s theory of causation in GAD?
Avoidance Theory
- Worrying contains more verbal thought than imagery. GAD patients are more inclined to worry using imagery.
- Images of possible negative events are highly aversive -> cause anxiety symptoms
- Reduced imagery -> reduced arousal/anxiety
List what is involved in social problem solving (D’Zurilla & Maydeu-Olivares, 1995).
- Problem definition
- Generation of alternative solutions
- Solution evaluation (positive/negative)
- Solution Selection
Why is it in GAD you don’t experience autonomic arousal?
It is said in GAD you don’t experience the autonomic arousal since the function of the words takes away the distressing imagery that brings upon the anxiety symptoms
What role does worrying play in avoidance theories?
Worry is a form of cognitive avoidance, it interferes with emotional processing and maintains fear structures
What is the experiential avoidance in theories of causation?
Perhaps excessive worry is associated with fear of anxiety and the intolerance of distress and experiental avoidance
What is the experiential avoidance in theories of causation?
Perhaps excessive worry is associated with fear of anxiety and the intolerance of distress and experiential avoidance
Worriers avoid internal experiences
Attempts to predict negative/uncomfortable effect - difficulties in clearly identifying, tolerating and modulating emotion
In experiential avoidance what does it mean by fear of anxiety (Buhr & Dugas, 2009)?
Very sensitive to anxiety; worry more
