Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
What is anxiety?
An emotion accompanied by a physiological changes (increased HR, increased BP, nausea, tingling muscles and RR increase)
Prepares the body for fight or flight
Why do we experience anxiety?
a biological/physiological motivator - helps the body to reach the fight or flight response in an emergency
When does anxiety become problematic?
Tends to be out of proportion/experience it more often than not
What is a “panic attack”?
A discrete episode of intense fear or discomfort
* Starts abruptly
* Reaches a maximum within a few minutes and lasts at least some minutes
* At least 4 specific symptoms of anxiety
What are common bodily symptoms of anxiety?
- headaches
- sweating
- light headedness
- chest pains
- palpitations
- stomach pains/diarrhoea/bladder weakness
Does one panic attack mean someone has a panic disorder?
No - isolated panic attacks are normal
What classifies diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
anxiety is continuous, the anxiety is there all the time
What are the types of episodic anxiety disorders?
Panic disorder
Phobias
Features of Generalised anxiety disorder
Over 6 months of tension, worry and apprehension about everyday events
Inclusive of finances, housing, relatives and health
Panic disorder features
- recurrent panic attacks
- unpredictable in nature
- dominant physical symptoms e.g. palpitations, chest pain, depersonalisation
- 4 panic attacks in 4 weeks
What is a phobia?
Fears of specific situations or objects and the anxiety is restricted to just that situation or object.
The anxiety cannot be reasoned or explained in any way and is seen as out of proportion.
What is Agoraphobia?
- fear of an open or closed space
- usually a fear of leaving home or being away from home
- fear of crowds, entering public spaces
Common additional symptoms of agoraphobia
- Depressive and obsessional symptoms
- Social phobias
Social phobias/social anxiety - what is it?
- Fear of being judged
- Blushing/hand tremor/nausea/urgency of urination
- Symptoms may progress into panic attacks
- Most commonly onset is in adolescence
Common age of onset for agoraphobia
20-35 years of age
When do specific phobias usually develop?
In childhood e.g. flying, dentists, certain animals
Psychological management of GAD
- CBT
- applied relaxation
- Self help
Psychological management of Phobias
psycho education
exposure
Medication to manage generalised anxiety disorder
- SSRIs
- Beta blockers for peripheral symptoms
- AVOID benzodiazepines but can be used in short term e.g. for a one time flight
What is obsessive compulsive disorder?
- Recurrent obsessional thoughts and compulsive acts
“ideas, images or impulses that enter their mind repetitively”
Examples of obsessions in OCD
fear of getting a disease
fear of coming to harm
fear of causing harm to others
What are compulsions in OCD?
- Stereotyped behaviours that are repeated again and again.
- Not inherently enjoyable, nor do they result in the completion of inherently useful tasks.
- Function is to prevent some unlikely event, usually involving harm.
Step wise approach of management in OCD (based on how much symptoms impair their daily life/functioning)
- CBT and ERP (exposure and response prevention) in mild impairment
- SSRI usually Sertraline in moderate impairment
- Clomipramine is given in cases of severe impairment
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
- Re-experiencing symptoms eg flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive memories
- Avoidance of activities and situations associated with trauma
- Hyper-arousal/anxiety with hyper-vigilance and increased startle reaction ie jumpy
- Numbness, emotional blunting, detachment from others
- Associated depression and suicidal ideation
