Anxiety Flashcards
What is anxiety?
A normal emotion under circumstances of threat and is thought to be part of the evolutionary fight or flight reaction of survival.
When does anxiety become a disorder?
When it is overwhelming and affecting function and quality of life
What are the core symptoms of anxiety? (2)
- Psychological
- Fear/anxiety, worry, apprehension, difficulty concentrating - Somatic (physical)
- Increased HR, tremor, sweating, GI upset
Which circuit in the brain primarily relates to fear?
Amygdala-centered circuit
Which circuit in the brain primarily relates to worry?
Cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit
What are the neurotransmitters that regulate the brain circuits associated with anxiety? (6)
- 5HT
- GABA
- Glutamate
- CRF/HPA
- NE
- Voltage-gated ion channels
GABA _________ activity of neurons
decreases
True or False? Gabapentin and pregabalin work on GABA in the brain
False - despite their names they have no association with GABA, they work on the 𝜶2ẟ subunit of presynaptic N and P/Q voltage-sensitive calcium channel to block release of glutamate when neurotransmission is excessive
What happens with SNRIs and β1 receptors when initially starting the medication?
Symptoms can be worsened at initial dosing with SNRIs but as β1 receptors downregulate, fear/worry improves long term
What are 4 aspects to evaluation of anxiety disorders?
- Gather history
- Review of systems
- Rule out anxiety disorders due to general medical conditions or substance use
- Review substances used (caffeine, OTC use, herbal medications, recreational substances) - Suicidal ideation or intent
What classes of drugs are classified as serotonergic agents? (3)
- SSRIs
- SNRIs
- TCAs
What drugs are classified as 𝜶2ẟ ligand drugs? (2)
- Gabapentin
- Pregabalin
What drugs are classified as selective serotonin agents (5HT1A agonists) (2)?
- Buspirone
- Second generation antipsychotics (SGAs)
What drug is an 𝜶1-1 adrenergic antagonist?
Prazosin
What are unique considerations to remember for bupropion? (2)
- Activating.
- Risk of seizures, avoid if seizure history, head trauma, bulimia, anorexia, electrolyte disturbances
What are unique considerations to remember for buspirone? (3)
- Slow onset, modest efficacy.
- May be helpful to augment therapy in those with partial response to antidepressants.
- Avoid if comorbid depression
What is a unique consideration to remember for citalopram? (2)
- Lower risk for insomnia, agitation, drug interactions compared to other SSRIs.
- Dose dependent risk of QT prolongation
What is a unique consideration to remember for duloxetine? (3)
- May be useful for comorbid pain.
- Compared to SSRIs: increased withdrawal symptoms if not tapered, increased insomnia or agitation.
- Avoid if liver disease or heavy EtOH use.
What are unique considerations to remember for escitalopram? (1)
- Similar to citalopram, except QT risk is controversial
What are unique considerations to remember for fluoxetine? (3)
- More activating than other SSRIs
- Self-tapering due to long half-life
- Drug interactions
What are unique considerations to remember for fluvoxamine? (2)
- Withdrawal symptoms if not tapered.
- Risk for drug interactions due to inhibition of CYP1A2 and CYP2C19
What are unique considerations to remember for hydroxyzine? (2)
- Useful for co-morbid insomnia
- Dose-related anticholinergic effects limit clinical use
What are unique considerations to remember for imipramine? (2)
- Anticholinergic; cardiotoxic in overdose
- Not well tolerated
What are unique considerations to remember for mirtazapine? (3)
- Helpful with comorbid insomnia
- Lower doses are more sedating
- May increase appetite and lead to weight gain
What are unique considerations to remember for paroxetine? (4)
- Compared to other SSRIs, more sedating, less agitation, more constipation, withdrawal symptoms if not tapered.
- May be associated with greater weight gain.
- Concern for drug interactions
- Avoid in pregnancy due to cardiac septal defects
What are unique considerations to remember for pregabalin? (2)
- Sedation and dizziness are common
- Weight gain, especially with long-term use
What are unique considerations to remember for quetiapine? (1)
- Concerns for metabolic ADEs, sedation, EPS
What are unique considerations to remember for sertraline? (1)
- Compared to other SSRIs, insomnia, agitation, dizziness
What are unique considerations to remember for venlafaxine (5)
- Compared to other antidepressants, greater risk for insomnia or agitation as well as increased BP
- Possible benefit for comorbid pain
- Few drug interactions
- Withdrawal symptoms if not tapered
- Better evidence for psychological symptoms (e.g., ruminative worry of GAD)
Ratio of women:men with GAD is x:y
2:1
When is GAD onset usually?
Usually in late adolescence or early adulthood
- Cases in older adults as well
GAD etiology is not really know, but it is likely caused by what?
A combined effect of biological and psychological factors
What are other suspected causes of GAD? (6)
- Medications
- Natural products
- Medical conditions
- Medication withdrawal
- Alcohol, sedatives, benzos - Socioeconomic: poor minority classes
- Stressful event in susceptible person
What are some important drugs to know that are associated with anxiety symptoms? (4)
- Antidepressants - bupropion
- NSAIDs
- Stimulants
- Sympathomimetics - pseudoephedrine, phenylepherine
What are some psychological and cognitive symptoms of GAD? (7)
- Excessive anxiety
- Worries that are difficult to control
- Feeling keyed up or on edge
- Poor concentration
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
What are some physical symptoms of GAD? (6)
- Fatigue
- Muscle tension
- Trembling or shaking
- Feeling of fullness in throat/chest
- Sweating
- Cold, clammy hands
Describe the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 (GAD-7).
That is, how many items, what is it used for, who does it, how long?
- 7-item scale
- Screens for GAD and severity
- Self-rated
- Brief (5 mins)
Describe the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A).
That is, how many items, what is it used for, who does it, how long? (6)
- 14-item scale
- Assess severity of anxiety
- Clinician rated
- Brief (10-15 mins)
- Assess response to treatment
- Need trained rater
What are the GAD goals of therapy for an acute episode? (2)
- Decrease severity and duration of anxiety symptoms
- Improve overall function
What are the GAD goals of therapy for long-term goals? (4)
- Remission
- With minimal or no anxiety symptoms
- No functional impairment
- Improve patient QoL
What are the treatment principles to consider for GAD treatment? (3)
- Psychotherapy + pharmacotherapy
- Psychotherapy is least invasive and safest
- Pharm indicated if symptoms severe enough to produce functional disability - Treatment plan depends on severity and chronicity of symptoms, age, medication history, and comorbid medical and psychiatric conditions
- Consider: anticipated ADEs, history of prior response in patient or family member, patient preference, cost
What are some non-pharm treatment options that can be used for GAD? (6)
- Reduce/avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine use
- Avoidance of non-prescription stimulants & medications known to induce anxiety
- Exercise
- Psychotherapy +/- counselling (CBT most effective)
- Relaxation techniques
- Biofeedback
What are THE 1st-line treatment options for GAD? (6)
1.SSRI:
- Escitalopram
- Paroxetine
- Sertraline
2. SNRI:
- Duloxetine
- Venlafaxine
3. Pregabalin
What are the 2nd-line treatment options for GAD? (6)
- BZD (short-term use)
- Alprazolam
- Lorazepam
- Diazepam - Bupropion
- Buspirone
- Hydroxyzine
What does current evidence say about what to do when there has been a partial response to drug therapy?
Current data does not provide guidance as to whether it is best to increase to dose, augment, or switch when there has been a partial response to drug therapy
What is the main side effect to know for hydroxyzine?
Anticholinergic, sedation
Should know the important GAD treatment timeframes for SSRIs/SNRIs:
1. Onset of symptom relief
2. Maximal response
3. Treatment duration
- 2-4 weeks
- 12 weeks
- 12-24 months
What is the MOA of benzodiazepines? (3)
- Bind to the benzodiazepine receptors on the GABA neuron
- Leads to an increase in the frequency of opening of the chloride channels by increasing binding affinity for the endogenous ligand GABA
- The shift in chloride ions results in hyperpolarization (a less excitable state) and stabilization
How efficacious are benzos in GAD?
Provides rapid initial relief of anxiety symptoms, but effects may not be significantly different from placebo after 4-6 weeks of treatment
RCT evidence supports the efficacy of which benzos in GAD specifically? (BALD)
- Bromazepam
- Alprazolam
- Lorazepam
- Diazepam