Anxiety disorders Flashcards
What is neurosis
Group of psychiatric disorders
Characterised by distress
Non-organic
Discrete onset
No hallucinations or delusions
What is anxiety
Unpleasant emotional state
Subjective fear
Somatic symptoms
Problematic when excessive and inappropriate
What are the psychological features of anxiety
Anticipatory fear of impending doom
Worrying thoughts
Exaggerated startle response
Restlessness
Poor concentration and attention
Irritability
Depersonalisation
Derealisation
What are the non-psychological features of anxiety
CVS
- Palpitations, chest pain
Resp
- Hyperventilation, cough, chest tightness
GI
- Abdominal pain, loose stools, nausea and vomiting, dysphagia, dry mouth
Urinary
- Frequency, failure of erection, menstrual discomfort
Neuromuscular
- Tremor, myalgia, headaches, paraesthesia, tinnitus
Behaviours
- Avoidant
What is generalised (free-floating) anxiety
Present most of the time
Not associated with specific objects or situations
Excessive/inappropriate worries about normal life events
Long duration
What is episodic (paroxysmal) anxiety
Abrupt onset
Discrete episodes
Severe
Strong autonomic symptoms
Short-lived
What are the conditions related to anxiety
Medical
- Hyperthyroidism, hypoglycaemia, anaemia, phaeochromocytoma, Cushing’s, COPD, heart failure, malignancy
Substance-related
- Intoxication, withdrawal, medication side-effect
Psychiatric
- Eating disorders, somatoform disorders, depression, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, adjustment disorders, anxious avoidant personality disorder
What is generalised anxiety disorder
Ongoing, uncontrollable, widespread worry about many events
Thoughts recognised by patient as being excessive and inappropriate
Most days for >6 months
What is the epidemiology of generalised anxiety disorder
2-4%
F>M
What are the risk factors for generalised anxiety disorder
Predisposing
- Genetics, upbringing, personality type, demand for high achievement, divorce, live alone, single parent, low socioeconomic status
Precipitating
- Stressful life event
Perpetuating
- Controlling stressful event, marital status, living alone, certain ways of thinking
What are the clinical features of generalised anxiety disorder
Chest and abdomen
- Difficulty breathing, feeling of choking, chest pain, nausea, abdominal pain, loose stools
Brain
- Dizzy, feeling of dying, fear of losing control, derealisation, depersonalisation
General
- Hot flushes, cold chills, numbness/tingling, headaches
Tension
- Muscle aches, restlessness, feeling on edge, difficulty swallowing, lump in throat
Non-specific
- Startled, difficulty concentrating, persistent irritability, sleep disturbances
What is the ICD-10 criteria for generalised anxiety disorder
> 6 months of prominent tension, worry, and feelings of apprehension about everyday events/problems
At least 4 symptoms, at least 1 of autonomic arousal (palpitations, sweating, shaking/tremor, dry mouth)
What are the investigations for generalised anxiety disorder
Bloods
- FBC TFTs, glucose
ECG
- Tachycardia
Questionnaires
- GAD-2, GAD-7, Beck’s anxiety inventory, hospital anxiety and depression scale
What are the differential diagnoses for generalised anxiety disorder
Neurotic disorders
- Panic disorder, specific phobias, OCD, PTSD
Depression
Schizophrenia
Personality disorders
- Anxious, dependent
Excessive caffeine/alcohol
Withdrawal from drugs
Organic
- Anaemia, hyperthyroidism, phaeochromocytoma, hypoglycaemia
What is the biological management for generalised anxiety disorder
First line: SSRI (sertraline)
SNRI (venlafaxine, duloxetine)
Pregabalin (if SSRI/SNRI not affective)
Continue for 1 year
Do not give benzodiazepines (only short term during crisis)
What is the psychological management for generalised anxiety disorder
Psychoeducation
CBT
Applied relaxation techniques
What is the social management for generalised anxiety disorder
Self-help methods
Support groups
Encourage exercise
What is the NICE stepped care model for generalised anxiety disorder
Step 1
- Identification and assessment
- Psychoeducation and active monitoring
Step 2
- Low intensity psychological intervention
- Self-help, psychoeducation, group-based therapy
Step 3
- High intensity psychological intervention
- CBT or applied relaxation
- Drug treatment
Step 4
- Highly socialised input
- Drug and psychological therapy
- Consider involving crisis team
What is a phobia
Intense, irrational fear of an object/situation/person/place
Recognised as excessive and unreasonable (out of proportion to threat)
What is agoraphobia
Fear of public spaces
Fear where immediate escape would be difficult
25-30s
Strongly linked to panic disorder