Anxiety

Question 1

What is anxiety?

Answer 1

• feeling of worry and nervousness

Question 2

what is the lifetime risk of anxiety?

Answer 2

25%

Question 3

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Answer 3

*** panic attacks

1) Psychological - worry, apprehension, fear, persistent nervousness, poor concentration, irritability.
2) Arousal - restless, increased startle response
3) Fear - illness, accident, losing control, impending danger, fear of dying
4) Motor - muscle tension, headaches, trembling, purposeless activity, weakness

5) Autonomic -
CVS - palpitations, tightness, pain
Resp - Over breathing, difficulty inhaling
GI - dry mouth, loose stools, epigastric discomfort, choking, dysphagia
Urinary - increased frequency
Neuro - blurred vision, dizzy, nausea, numbness, tingling.

4) Others - sweating, sleep disturbed, flushing, sweats

Question 4

What are the other differentials of anxiety symptoms/

Answer 4

1) Heart disease (IHD, AF, HF,)
2) Lung - PE, asthma , COPD
3) Endocrine - diabetes, thyroid
4) drug / alcohol withdrawal
5) IBS
6) tumours - phaeochromocytoma
7) depression

Question 5

What is the assesment criteria for anxiety?

Answer 5

GAD-7

Question 6

What are the medical treatments for anxiety?

Answer 6

1) SSRI (sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine)
2) NaSSa (mirtazepine)
3) SNRI (Venlafaxine)
4) pregablin, trazadone, buspirone
5) Benzodiazepines (PRN/short term as very adictive)