Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
What are the qualifications for a Panic Disorder?
Recurring unexpected panic attacks
1 month of one of the following
-Persistent concern about having additional attacks
-Worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences
-A significant change in behavior related to the attacks (Avoidance)
What are the physiological symptoms of a Panic Attack?
Shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, choking or smothering sensations, fear of “going crazy” or losing control. Sweating, Trembling or shaking, Dizziness, Chills or heat sensations, Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations), Sense of derealization (feelings of unreality) or Depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
What are the key features distinguishing a Panic Attack?
Sudden or rapid onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom. May last 10-30 minutes at peak. People are often wiped out afterward, and the attack itself may be fairly traumatic. Rare in Children, first presenting in late adolescence
What’s the difference between anxiety and fear?
Anxiety: somatic symptoms of tension, anxiety is centered on the future stat, adaptive or maladaptive response to only potential threat or danger.
Fear: Adaptive response to real threat or danger, immediate fight or flight response to danger. More of a present-oriented response.
Is there gendered difference in the rate of anxiety disorders?
Yes, more common in women
What is agoraphobia?
Anxiety about, or avoidance of places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help may not be available in the event of having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms
For instance: crowds, travel, being outside of the home alone.
What distinguishes a phobia?
Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence of anticipation of a specific object or situation
-Interference with functioning
How are the Blood-injection-injury type phobias different than others?
Strong Vasovagal response, with a drop in blood pressure and tendency to faint. Also highly familial.
What are the four types of specific phobias?
Animal Type, Natural Environment Type, Situational Type, Blood-Injection-Injury Type
What distinguishes a social anxiety disorder?
Fear of situations in which they may be scrutinized or evaluated, and thus embarassed, humilliated, or viewed, as incompetent. They often recognize it as unreasonable, and may desire to interact with others. However, results in avoidance.
What characterizes Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
6 months of persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities, with difficulty controlling worry. Highly comorbid with other anxiety disorders and depression.
What are physical symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Restlessness, feeling on edge, easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances or unsatisfying sleep.
What helped convince people that biology played an important part of psychopathology?
The discovery that tertiary syphilis or neurosyphilis played a major role in general paresis.
What are the characteristics of separation anxiety?
-Occurs in children.
-Unrealistic worry something will happen to parents or something will separate them. Misses school because they are afraid something will happen. Often entails physical complaints, and excessive crying. It’s considered a risk factor for developing other anxiety disorders later on.
What characterizes a compulsion?
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession in order to prevent distress in a situation. The rules guided the behavior often must be applied rigidly. The compulsion doesn’t necessarily have to be connected to the obsession in a realistic way.
