ANXIETY DISORDER / DSM AND SPECIFIC DISORDERS / PHOBIC DISORDER

Question 1

DEFINITION: ANXIETY DISORDER

Prevalence of anxiety disorders
= Anxiety is the most common mental condition in Australia
= Generalized anxiety disorder - males (2.0%) and females (3.5%)

Answer 1

• Specific recurring fears that are in response to something specific
• The individual is able to recognize the fears as irrational, unrealistic and intrusive

Question 2

DSM (SPECIFIC DISORDERS)

Answer 2

Specific phobias

• Feels fearful about a particular object, activity or situation. May go to read lengths to avoid the situation
• e.g. having an injection

Question 3

DEFINITION: PHOBIC DISORDER

• Persistent
• Irrational
• Intense

Answer 3

• Persistent, irrational and intense fear of a particular object or event
• Interferes with a person’s social functioning

Question 4

DEFINITION: SPECFIC PHOBIA

• Intense fear
• Irrational fear
• Cannot control fear
• Fear interrupts daily functioning

Answer 4

• The fear if a single specific object or event
• Triggers a panic response
• People recognize that their fears are unreasonable and excessive BUT they cannot control them