Anxiety Flashcards
What are the cognitive symptoms of anxiety?
Agitation Feelings of impending doom Poor concentration Difficulty getting to sleep Excessive concern about self and bodily functions Repetitive thoughts and activities
What are the somatic symptoms of anxiety?
Tension, trembling, sense of collapse, goosebumps, butterflies, hyperventilation (tetany, chest pain, tingling, tinnitus), headaches, sweating, palpitations, nausea, lump in throat
What are the behaviours associated with anxiety? (Actions in response to the anxiety which reinforce the anxiety state)
Reassurance seeking
Avoidance
Dependence on person/object
What symptoms can children with anxiety present with?
Bed-wetting
Thumb-sucking
Nail-biting
What are the causes of anxiety?
Genetic predisposition
Stress (work, noise, hostile home)
Major events (losing/gaining spouse, job, moving home)
Faulty learning/secondary gain
What are the non-pharmacological treatments are used in anxiety?
Regular exercise
Meditation e.g. mindfulness
Progressive relaxation training (deep breathing + relaxation of muscle groups)
CBT
Behavioural therapy - graded exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli
Hypnosis
What is first line for treating anxiety? What is used if this is ineffective?
SSRIs are first line
SNRIs and TCAs are second line
MAOIs are third line
When are benzodiazepines used for anxiety?
For acute distress and agitation
Trials of several other medications have failed
When is pregabalin used in anxiety?
As monotherapy or in combination with antidepressants
When are antipsychotics used in anxiety?
Acute distress
Sometimes to augment antidepressant therapy
When are beta-blockers used in anxiety?
Used for the somatic symptoms of anxiety
Can be useful in people giving public speeches
What is the disadvantage of using beta-blockers to treat anxiety?
Does not treat the cognitive symptoms of anxiety
Can be detrimental as people feel anxious, but don’t look it so can affect relationships adversely
