Anxiety disorders Flashcards
1
Q
Models of stress
A
- Biomechanical ‘engineering’
- Medicophysiologucal
- Psychological (transactional)
2
Q
Psychological model of stress
A
- Interactive
- Response to stress depends on interplay between cognitive processing of perceived threat and ability to cope
- Coping can be problem focused or emotion focused
3
Q
Coping mechanisms
A
- Problem focused → efforts directed at altering the stressor
- Emotion focused → efforts directed at altering emotional reaction/ mental processes to the stress
4
Q
Symptom groups of anxiety
A
- Psychological arousal
- Autonomic arousal
- Muscle tension
- Hyperventilation
- Sleep disturbances
5
Q
Phobic anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder
A
- Both involve the core presentation of anxiety
- Phobias → symptoms only occur in a particular circumstance i.e agoraphobia, social phobia specific (isolated) phobias
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) → persistently and pervasively
6
Q
Generalised anxiety disorder
A
- Symptoms are not confined to a specific situation or object
- Presentations include a whole range of different systems
7
Q
Differentials to anxiety disorders
A
- Psychiatric
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Dementia
- Substance misuse
- Physical
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Phaechromocytoma
- Hypoglycaemia
- Asthma
- Arhythmias
8
Q
Epidemiology of GAD
A
- 4.4% prevalence in England
- More common in women
9
Q
Aetiology of GAD
A
- No clear line between anxiety and anxiety disorders
- Often caused by interplay between stressor and personality predisposed to GAD
- Combination of genetic and environmental factors in childhood
10
Q
Management of GAD
A
- Counselling
- Relaxation training → group, individual, DVD
- Medication
- Antidepressants → SSRIs and TCA
- Sedatives (highly addictive)
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
11
Q
Characteristics of phobic anxiety disorder
A
- Same core features of GAD
- Only in specific circumstances
- ‘Phobic avoidance’
- Clinically important → specific, social and agoraphobia
12
Q
Specific phobias
A
- Spiders
- Heights
- Germs
- Blood
13
Q
Social phobia
A
- Inappropriate anxiety in social situations
- Feelings of being observed or criticise → restaurants, shops, public speaking
- Can be a cluster of anxiety symptoms → blushing, tremor etc
14
Q
Management of social phobia
A
- CBT
- Work on ‘thought errors;
- Negative self-appearance
- Unrealistic high standards
- Excessive self monitoring
- Education and advice
- Medication → SSRI antidepressants
15
Q
Characteristics of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A
- Recurrent obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviours
- Obsessional thoughts
- Ideas, images, impulses
- Repeated and not willed
- Unpleasant and disturbing → obscene, violent, senseless
- Individuals own thoughts
- Accompanied by anxiety symptoms
- Compulsive behaviours
- Pattern of behaviours repeated again
- Not enjoyable and associated with shame
- Not helpful or meaningful
- Aims at temporarily easing anxiety
