Anxiety Disorder

Question 1

Anxiety

Answer 1

A sense of dread, fear and uneasiness

Question 2

Anxiety disorder

Answer 2

• condition where the feeling of anxiety does not go away and potentially worsens over time
• often impedes with occupational performance
• is the most common comorbidity associated with other conditions and disorders

Question 3

Symptoms of anxiety disorder

Answer 3

• elevated anxious thoughts that are difficult to ignore
• rapid heartbeat
• unrelated aches and pains
• dizziness
• short of breath

Question 4

How is anxiety disorder diagnosed

Answer 4

• see a primary care provider or healthcare professional to check if there are any underlying health conditions correlated to anxiety
• might see a mental health specialist or a psychiatrist
• psychological evaluation and screening tools
• compare symptoms to the criteria’s in the DSM-5

Question 5

Anxiety screening tools

Answer 5

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
• Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
• Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED)
• Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A)

Question 6

Treatments and medications for anxiety disorder

Answer 6

• psychotherapy = also known as talk therapy and psychosocial counseling
• CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) = a short-term treatment, focuses on teaching you specific skills to improve your symptoms and gradually return to the activities you’ve avoided because of anxiety (includes exposure therapy)
• benzodiazepines = short term, people build a tolerance
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)

Question 7

Types of anxiety disorders

Answer 7

• generalized anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• separation anxiety disorder
• agoraphobia
• phobias

Question 8

Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer 8

• characterized by excessive, frequent, and unrealistic worry about everyday things
• affects about 3% of the U.S. population

Question 9

Panic disorder

Answer 9

• characterized by the person suffering panic attacks, often without warning
• affects about 2-3% of the U.S. population

Question 10

Separation anxiety disorder

Answer 10

• characterized by increased anxiety when removed from a loved one, mostly seen in children
• affects about 4% of children, 1.6% of adolescents, and 1.9% of adults

Question 11

Agoraphobia

Answer 11

• characterized by an intense fear of becoming overwhelmed or unable to get help or escape
• affects about 1.7% of the U.S population

Question 12

Phobias

Answer 12

• characterized as something that triggers a fear response in the person suffering
• affects around 12% of the U.S. population

Question 13

Occupational limitations

Answer 13

• decrease in occupational engagement and performance
• delay engaging in occupation to avoid negative feelings or feared outcomes
• difficulty achieving occupational balance
  Study = Occupational performance problems in people with depression and anxiety
• low performance and even lower satisfaction
• frequent problem areas concerned household management, socialization and personal care
• fatigue and loss of pleasure in activities
• cognitive components (concentration, finishing tasks, and taking initiative)
• social isolation

Question 14

Impact on ADLs

Answer 14

• impaired function in self-care tasks
• bathing, dressing, and eating
• functional mobility (slowing walking, balance deficits, and getting out of the bed)

Question 15

Impact on IADLs

Answer 15

• household management (cooking, cleaning, and laundry)
• community participation (tendency to avoid things that trigger anxiety and social participation)
• meal preparation

Question 16

Impact on rest

Answer 16

• nervous, restless and tense
• trouble staying asleep
• sleeping too much or too little

Question 17

Impact on leisure

Answer 17

• avoid physical exertion and triggers
• reduced participation in social settings (social isolation)