Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

Panic Disorder

Answer 1

• Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks
• For at least 1 mo., fear of future panic attacks or a significant change in behavior related to the attacks

involves classic conditioning

Question 2

Agoraphobia

Answer 2

• A person excessively and persistently fears 2 or more of the following: using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, standing in line or being in a crowd, or being outside of the home alone
• The person fears/ avoids situations because escape/rescue may be difficult in the event that incapacitating/ embarrassing symptoms develop

Often develops in Panic Disorder patients and is diagnosed as a separate illness

Question 3

Specific Phobia

Answer 3

• Excessive, persistent and disproportional fear of an object or situation
• Fear response invariably occurs when exposed to the stimulus or the person avoids the phobic situation
• Fear causes marked distress/impairment and isn’t accounted for by a different disorder

Subtypes: Animal, Natural Environment, Situational, Blood-Injection-Injury, Other

involves classic conditioning

Question 4

Social Anxiety Disorder (formerly social phobia)

Answer 4

• Excessives, persistent and unrealistic fear of social situations involving possible scrutiny by others due to fear of negative evaluation
• Specify “Performance only” if the fear is restricted to speaking or performing in public

Question 5

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer 5

• Persistent uncontrolled anxiety about multiple events
• Accompanied by symptoms such as restlessness, decreased concentration, muscle tension, fatigue, irritability, insomnia

Don’t diagnose this disorder if worry is better explained by another disorder
Symptoms usually start at young age and are chronic
Patients usually seek help for physical symptoms
Rule out: other medical conditions (e.g.: hyperthyroidism, and substance -induced