Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

The characteristics of Generalized Anxiety Disorder are:

Answer 1

• Inordinate worry more days than not
• Must experience at least 3 of the following symptoms at least one lasting at least 6 months:
  
  • Agitation
  • Tiredness
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Irritability
  • Muscular tension
  • Difficulty sleeping

Question 2

The following medications help people manage anxiety symptoms:

Answer 2

Antidepressants - must be taken daily even on anxiety-free days
*SSRIs
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Sertraline (Zoloft).
* SNRIs
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)
* Tricyclic antidepressants (sometimes)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)

Antihistamines - Hydroxyzin
Take as needed, for mild anxiety

Beta-blockers - Propranolol
Take as needed, for mild anxiety

Benzodiazepines - best for immediate relief of acute anxiety (panic attack)
* Alprazolam (Xanax)
* Conazepam (Klonopin)
* Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
* Diazepam (Valium)
* Lorazepam (Ativan)

Question 3

The following therapeutic techniques are helpful for people with anxiety disorders:

Answer 3

• Psychodynamic psychotherapy
• Supportive-expressive therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Question 4

The following assessments help diagnose/measure anxiety:

Answer 4

• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
• Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS)
• Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7)
• Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)
• Hamilton rating scale for anxiety

Question 5

Aside from General Anxiety Disorder, what are the other types of anxiety disorders?

Answer 5

• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Selective Mutism
• Specific Phobia
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia