Anxiety Flashcards
what is anxiety
intense fear of events/situation that are avoided/endured with sense of dread/distress
what is anxiety motivated by
future events which are more abstract
what is fear motivated by
imminent threats
similarities between fear and anxiety
arousal via sympathetic nervous system (involuntary response to dangerous or stressful situation)
what is the resulting feeling from anxiety
long, sustained affective state which is diffused
epidemiology of anxiety
most commonly experienced psych condition in US
lifetime prevalence of anxiety
29%
is anxiety comorbid, and with what
50% with anxiety meet criteria for another anxiety disorder
66% meet criteria for another psych disorder
60% with depression
sex differences in anxiety
2:1 female to male ratio
sex differences in anxiety explaineed
women more likely to get help
more factors which induce anxiety
- trauma exposure, mood amplification
heritability of anxiety
20-40% of anxiety disorder
environmental factors and anxiety
childhood trauma increases risk
cultural context influence prevalence and focus
common criteria of anxiety
interferes with functioning - should cause impairment
not caused by drug or medical condition
should persist for 6 months
symptoms cannot be explained by another disorder
specific phobia ?
form of anxiety targeted on specific stimulus or situation
specific criteria for anxiety
- marked/disproportionate fear constantly triggered by specific objects or situations
- object/situation is avoided or endured with intense anxiety
lifetime prevalence of specific phobias
7-15%
when and how do specific phobias begin
in childhood
avg age 8
often linked to specific experiences
social anxiety disorder - criteria
marked and disproportionate fear consistently triggered by exposure to potential social security
exposure to trigger leads to intense anxiety about being evaluated negatively
triggering situations are avoided or endured with intense anxiety
what are the effects of social anxiety disorder
more serious as socialising is crucial for navigating a normal and healthy life
poeple miss out on experiences, social connections, relationships
ruminate extensively about future scenarios and possible outcomes
when does social anxiety disorder begin
usually adolescence but sometimes childhood
not from one event but broad childhood experiences which could subsume variety of social experiences
panic disorder
recurrent and unexpected panic attacks
the misfiring of fear system, symptoms begin and cycle, brings on onset of panic attack
criteria of panic disorder
at least 1 month of concern/worry about experiencing attacks or fearing the consequence
maladaptive behvaioural changes
what are panic attacks
unexpected and uncontrollable episodes of terror, apprehension, sense of dread, accompanied by physiological changes
physiological changes of panic attacks
breathlessness, dizziness, nausea, palpitations
how common are panic attacks
25%
agoraphobia
consistent fear and anxiety about situations where it would be embarrassing or difficult to escape if anxiety symptoms occurred
characteristics of agoraphobia
situations are either avoided or suffered using maladaptive coping mechanisms, or with intense anxiety
what was agoraphobia formerly noted as
special case of panic disorder