anxiety disorder Flashcards
worry and fear center of the brain
amygdala
lateral nucleus inputs
thalamus (sensory), hippocampus (memories), the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (PFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and anterior cingulate cortex
lateral nucleus communicates with what 2 other nuclei?
central and basal
basal nucleus outputs
central nucleus and PFC
central nucleus outputs
hypothalamus (sympathetic response) and brainstem (freeze & pain modulation)
lateral nucleus outputs (besides central and basal nuclei)
ventromedial PFC, nucleus accumbens, and thalamus
worrying circuit
cortical-thalamic-striatal-cortex (CTSC)
CTSC circuit process
OFC signals to dorsolateral PFC about worry/ fear
Dorsolateral PFC will signal back to OFC to rationalize and calm if not a real concern
If it’s a real concern (or someone with an anxiety disorder) then signals to thalamus → striatum (caudate + putamen) → back to OFC
behavioral learning theory of anxiety
Anxiety is a conditioned response to repeated environmental stimuli
Anxiety results from copying parent’s behavior (social learning)
cognitive learning theory of anxiety
Overestimation of degree of danger or underestimation of ability to cope
Primary appraisal is danger → secondary is “I can’t cope”
phobias
Marked, persistent fear of, or anxiety about, a specific situation or object > 6 months plus nearly always triggers immediate fear, actively avoids, fear is out of proportion, and fear causes significant distress or impairs social functioning
best treatment for phobias
exposure therapy
generalized anxiety disorder
Excessive anxiety and worry occuring more days than not, for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities plus physical symptoms
social anxiety disorder/ social phobia
Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others; person fears they will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated
what are panic attacks used/ characterized as in diagnosis?
specifier (ex: GAD with panic attacks)
panic attack
An abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and occurs with at least 4 physical symptoms
panic disorder
Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
At least one attack has been followed by a month or more of persistent concern or worry about more attacks/ their consequences and a significant maladaptive change in behavior to try and avoid the attacks
obsessions
recurrent and persistent thoughts, burgers, or images that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted and cause marked anxiety or distress; attempts to ignore or neutralize them with some thought or action
compulsions
repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the individual feels drive to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules they apply rigidly; aimed at presenting or reducing anxiety and distress but they are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize
obsessive compulsive disorder
Only need to experience obsessions or compulsions but almost everyone has both
OCD treatment
meds + exposure and behavior therapy
