Anxiety Flashcards
what are physical manifestations of anxiety?
- symapthetic: diaphoresis, mydriasis, tachycardia, tremor
- GI/GU symptoms (diarrhea, more urine)
- hyperventilation –> dizziness and syncope, parasthesia
- numbness and tingling in extremities and around the mouth
what are psychological manifestations of anxiety?
restlessness, irritability, trouble concentrating, worry
what is the time frame of anxiety?
disorder depdendent
what are organic (medical) causes for anxiety?
- caffeine
- substance abuse (cocaine, amphetamines)
- withdrawal (alcohol, benzos, opiates)
- hyperthyroidism
- arrhythmia
- B12 deficiency
- hypoglycemia
- pheochromocytoma
what are often seen in ED setting presenting as anxiety?
acute MI, PE, COPD, asthma
-regardless of setting, must take history about medical and psych components, perform physical, and send labs as needed to rule out medical causes
what are psychiatric disorders associated with anxiety?
- depression
- schizophrenia
- eating disorders
- personality disorders
- substance dependence
how do you diagnose anxiety?
symptoms must:
- be persistent (>6 mo, shorter in children)
- interfere with normal functioning (work, job, marriage)
- cause significant distress
otherwise, we declare normal anxiety and fear responses as pathological
what are psychosocial factors of anxiety?
- traumatic events or extreme stressors (PTSD, panic attack) may help create anxiety disorder (Freudian Signal Anxiety)
- maladaptive coping skills/personality traits make people vulnerable to increase stress levels (GAD, phobias)
what are biologic factors of anxiety?
- greater prevalence in populations of family members with anxiety disorders
- -genetics may play role (30% as opposed to 50% schizophrenia, 7-80% ADHD/bipolar)
- gender bias (disorder dependent) in that women > men (equal in OCD)
what are neurobiological factors of anxiety?
- decreased serotonin and GABA activity
- increased NE and glutamate activity
what is diagnostic criteria for general anxiety disorder?
- excessive anxiety/worry occurring more days than not for >6 mo, regarding >1 event/activity
- difficult to control worry
- associated with >3 of following:
- restlessness
- easily fatigued
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
- muscle tension
- sleep disturbance
what is the occurrence of GAD?
- 3-5% in general population
- women > men
- 50% begin prior to adulthood
- parents may be GAD
- may self-medicate with alcohol
prognosis of GAD?
without treatment, tends to worsen over time (especially if stressful)
explain the treatment for all anxiety, and how they work?
- therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic)
- medication
- antidepressants (SSRI, SNRI) increase SR or NE, or both (downregulate/desensitize receptors)
- Buspirone (slow-acting 5HT1a receptor agonist that initially lowers 5-HT activity, then increases output)
- -only used for GAD
- benzodiazepine (fast-acting GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulator allows more Cl- channels to open)
- -second line due to risk of addiction, falls, and apnea
- beta-blockers (off-label use; for symtomatic relief of performance anxiety from sympathetic system - NOT GAD)
- combinations
what is the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder?
- recurrent unexpected panic attacks
- > 1 attack followed by > 1 month of > 1 of the following:
- concern about additional panic attacks or consequences
- significant maladaptive change in behavior related to attacks
what are symptoms associated with panic disorder?
> 4 of the following physical and psychological components
- palpitations, pounding heart, accelerated HR
- sweating
- shaking/trembling
- sensation of SOB or smothering
- choking feeling
- chest pain/discomfort
- nausea
- dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
- chills/heat
- paresthesias
- derealization (out of body experience)
- fear of losing control
- fear of dying
what is agoraphobia?
- fear/anxiety of >2 of the following, for >6 mo:
- using public transportation
- being in open/enclosed spaces
- standing in line or a crowd
- being outside the home alone - fear of not being able to escape situation
- situation almost always produces fear/anxiety, to the point of avoiding it - fear/anxiety out of proportion to actual danger
- causes significant impairment, with no other explanations
occurrence and prognosis of panic disorder
- 5 to 3.5% prevalence in general population, women > men
- chronic and recurring
- increased risk of depression and suicide
what is treatment of panic disorder?
- therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy via systemic desensitization or flooding
- psychodynamic therapy - medication
- emergency treatment: fast acting benzos
- long term 1st line: SSRI/SNRI
- intermediate or long-term 2nd line: benzos (addiction potential) - combination treatment
what are diagnostic criteria for phobia?
- > 6 mo of marked fear/anxiety about a specific object/situation
- object/situation almost always provokes fear/anxiety
- actively avoids object/situation
- fear/anxiety is out of proportion to actual danger - no other explanation for symptoms
what is coulrophobia?
fear of clowns
what is ophidiophobia?
fear of snakes