Anxiety

Question 1

What is anxiety?

Answer 1

A syndrome of ongoing worry or feeling fearful that interferes with day-to-day activities

Question 2

What causes it?

Answer 2

Abnormal nervous impulses from the brain act on the body and produce physical symptoms from the heart, lungs etc

Question 3

What types of anxiety are there? (7)

Answer 3

1. Adjustment reaction
2. Post-traumatic Stress
3. Phobic Anxiety
4. Social Anxiety
5. Panic/Generalised Anxiety
6. OCD
7. Agoraphobia

Question 4

Is it common?

Answer 4

Yes, 1 in 20 people have anxiety at any one time

Question 5

Who does it affect?

Answer 5

It is more common in women

Question 6

Risk factors (3)

Answer 6

Aged 35-54, divorced/separated, living alone/lone parent

Question 7

Symptoms (6)

Answer 7

Palpitations, chest pain, headaches, nausea, sweating, dry mouth

Question 8

Signs (3)

Answer 8

Tachycardia, Tachypnoea, Tremor

Question 9

Differentials (7)

Answer 9

Schizophrenia, Depression, Dementia, Alcoholism, Thyrotoxicosis, Hyperglycaemia, Phaeochromocytoma

Question 10

Investigations

Answer 10

Must meet the diagnositc criteria of Excessive anxiety/worry for >6months, and at least 4 other systemic symptoms

Question 11

Treatment (10)

Answer 11

Must have an understanding approach, counselling, anxiety management courses, CBT, self help, SSRIs, Benzodiazepines (e.g Diazepam), Buspirone, Propanolol, reduce alcohol due to risk of addiction

Question 12

Is there a good prognosis?

Answer 12

It is usually a chronic condition that is controlled rather than cured, chronic anxiety is related to higher morbidity from Cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance