Anxiety Flashcards
anxiety and fear illicit the same physiologic response, t or f
true - fight or flight mode
what is anxiety
real or perceived threat
fear is in response to a
danger
dysfunctional anxiety is anxiety that
persists over time
goal of trt for anxiety
decrease anxiety, behaviors will also decrease
is normal anxiety good
yes - helps us prepare for exams
anxiety that persists over time is called
trait anxiety (pathological)
levels of anxiety (4)
mild - moderate - severe - panic
mild anxiety s/s
helping you - to your benefit (restless, fidget, problem solve, increased perception)
moderate anxiety s/s
increase from normal (can’t learn as much - focus on certain things, muscle tension, increased HR, resp)
severe anxiety s/s
disorganized, confused, intense physiological response, no problem solving, cant learn
panic s/s
complete disorganization, disconnection from environment, uncoordinated/erratic movements, dilated pupils, hallucinations, delusions
what are defense mechanisms
unconscious means of managing inner conflict
defense mechanisms can go from
healthy to immature
3 types of defense mechanisms
healthy, intermediate, immature
healthy defense mechanisms
humor, altruism
immature defense mechanisms
passive aggressive, act out, deny (found in personality disorders)
intermediate defense mechanisms
repress, undo, rationalize
characteristics of anxiety
rigid, repetitive, ineffective behaviors to control anxiety
3 main mediators in anxiety
serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA
which mediator is increased in anxiety
norepinehprine
which mediators are decreased in anxiety
serotonin and GABA
brain structure changes as a result of trauma, t or f
true
people with PTSD have increased levels of this
cortisol
anxiety is learned t or f
true
what happens during the Stress Response
epinephrine is released (increased HR and BP) - HPA axis is stimulated releasing cortisol
when stress goes on too long it can have damaging effects on the body, t or f
true
anxiety and stress disorders (7)
GAD - generalized anxiety disorder Phobias Panic Disorder Anxiety Caused by Medical Conditions OCD PTSD Acute Stress Disorder
GAD criteria
excessive anxiety over 6 months
GAD s/s
restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration
a phobia is a
fear of something
best intervention for phobias is
behavioral therapy
a social phobia is a fear of
exposure to social situations or required performance
agoraphobia is a fear of
fear of being in places you can’t get away from
the most debilitating anxiety disorder
agoraphobia - can prevent you from leaving your house
what is a panic attack
sudden onset of extreme apprehension or fear of impending doom
what is an obsession
unwanted thoughts and behaviors that are persistent over time (fear of contamination)
what is an ego dystonic symptom
not happy with whats happening
do ego dystonic symptoms occur with OCD
yes, often
what is a compulsion
ritualistic behaviors that your driven to perform
PTSD is characterized by
recurrent dreams or flashbacks
acute stress disorder symptoms last from
3 days to 1 month after event
A person with a fear of heights drives across a high
bridge. Which structure will stimulate a response from
the autonomic nervous system?
C.Hypothalamus - triggers Autonomic Nervous System
Cortisol is released in response to a patient’s
prolonged stress. Which initial effect would the nurse
expect to result from the increased cortisol level?
B.Focused and alert mental status
A patient with a high level of motor activity runs from
chair to chair and cries, “They’re coming! They’re
coming!” The patient is unable to follow staff direction
or respond to verbal interventions. Which nursing
diagnosis has the highest priority?
A.Risk for injury
A patient with a mass in the left upper lobe of the
lung is scheduled for a biopsy. The patient has
difficulty understanding the nurse’s comments and
asks, “What do you mean? What are they going to
do?” Assessment findings include a tremulous voice,
respiration at 28 breaths per minute, and a pulse
rate at 110 beats per minute. What is the patient’s
level of anxiety?
B.Moderate
example of defense mechanisms
Suppression - “I’m taking a vaca from my problems”
Compensation - “I may be short but I know basketball”
Undoing - tasty treat- guilt -workout
Rationalization - “The bank has plenty of $ they wont miss it”
Regression “Building blocks is really relaxing after a hard day”
Projection - “They’re out to get me - gonna kill me”
Denial - “I’m going to get my 4th second opinion”
