Anxiety

Question 1

Define Clinical Anxiety

Answer 1

clinical anxiety disorders are behavioural and cognitive changes without a triggering event disproportional to the situation

Question 2

Prevalence of Anxiety

Answer 2

– 18.1% of the US adult population will experience an anxiety disorder
– 12.6% of canadians aged 12 or older have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder (did not include aboriginal or combat personnel)

Higher prevalence among females and non-hispanic whites

Question 3

Symptoms of Anxiety (5)

Answer 3

1. Unpleasant feelings
2. Bodily symptoms
3. Changes in cognitions
4. Changes in behaviour
5. Vigilance – heightened sense of awareness

Question 4

What are the different classifications of anxiety?

Answer 4

–State Anxiety – noticeable but transient emotional state characterized by feelings of apprehension and heightened autonomic nervous system activity

–Trait Anxiety – general predisposition to respond with apprehension, worry, and nervousness across many situations

Question 5

What are common ways to measure anxiety in research?

Answer 5

1. Psychological measures
   – self-report inventories (e.g., STAI)
2. Physiological Measurements
   – EMG of skeletal muscle
   – blood pressure and heart rate
   – EEG (activity of brain)

Question 6

Preventative Effects of Exercise

Answer 6

Self-reported PA is associated with
– Better mental health
– Fewer symptoms of anxiety

Physically fit people have less anxiety than unfit individuals

Question 7

Use of Exercise as Treatment for Anxiety

Answer 7

Few studies on clinical samples

– Exercise is either than or no different from other treatments

Question 8

What is the relationship between Exercise and Anxiety?

Answer 8

Anxiety is reduced following aerobic exercise
– state anxiety following acute exercise
– trait anxiety following chronic exercise
Anaerobic (and resistance) exercise might slightly increase anxiety

Question 9

What are two proposed mechanisms of change in regards to the prevention of anxiety with exercise?

Answer 9

1. Thermogenic Hypothesis

2. Distraction/Time-out Hypothesis

Question 10

Proposed Mechanism of Change:

Thermogenic Hypothesis

Answer 10

Elevated body temperature resulting from exercise may also lead to observed psychological changes, such as a reduction in anxiety.
– Exercise-induced increases in body temperatureare are sensed by the brain,
– Brain triggers a muscular relaxation response
– This relaxation is fed back to the brain and interpreted as relaxation or reduced anxiety.

Question 11

Proposed Mechanism of Change:

Distraction/time-out hypothesius

Answer 11

The anxiety reducing effects seen with exercise are due to the distraction it provides from the normal routine

Question 12

General Recommendations

Answer 12

1. If you are concerned with trait anxiety, regular physical activity may be beneficial
2. Combining physical activity with other modalities may enhance its effectiveness
3. If you are concerned with situational anxiety engaging in exercise prior to the engagement may be helpful – specifically, aerobic exercise
4. Integrating physical activity such as yoga may also be beneficial as yoga has a meditation and relaxation component