Anxiety Flashcards
1
Q
What are some physical symptoms that anxiety can cause?
A
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Increased Heart rate
- tremors
- palpitations
- trouble breathing
- chest pain
2
Q
What is the criteria for diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder?
A
- Patient worries about most things on most days for at least the last six months
- patient has physical symptoms as well as the anxiety
- somatic symptoms can include: insomnia, decreased concentration, irritability, change in weight, change in appetite
3
Q
What is the treatment for GAD?
A
- Psychotherapy and SSRIs; psychotherapy works better than SSRIs used alone, but they are better together
4
Q
Define panic disorder
A
- acute panic that happens spontaneously
- patient is worried about when the next attack will be
- somatic symptoms include trembling, dyspnea, numbness, increased heart rate, sweating, palpitations, abdominal pain, nausea, intense fear of death
5
Q
A patient presents with trembling, increased heart rate, heart palpitations, and dyspnea while being in an enclosed space, such as an elevator. Even though the diagnosis appears to be panic disorder secondary to clostrophobia, what tests should you order to rule other medical causes?
A
- You would want to rule out thyroiditis of any king- order TSH
- rule out acute coronary syndrome–> troponins & EKG
- rule out asthma–> spirometry
6
Q
Treatment for panic disorder?
A
- Benzos for the actual attack
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
7
Q
exaggerated or irrational fears
A
phobias
8
Q
what are possible treatments for specific phobias?
A
- desensitization
- flooding
- control the flooding and desensitization with medications
- types of cognitive behavioral therapies
9
Q
Treatment for social phobias?
A
- Non-selective beta blockers, like propanolol (inderol)
