Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
which part of the brain acts as an ‘emotional filter’
amygdala
function of amygdala
assesses whether sensory material from thalamus needs stress or fear response – emotional filter
types of anxiety disorders
generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) panic disorder agoraphobia social phobia specific phobia
definition of generalised anxiety disorder
anxiety that is generalised + persistent but not related to an environmental circumstance
criteria for GAD diagnosis
symptoms present for most days for at least 6 months
non-controllable
causing significant distress/impairment in function
symptoms of GAD
persistent nervousness trembling/shaking sweating palpitations/ accelerated HR muscular tension dizzy/light headed insomnia
treatment of GAD
1st line : CBT
2nd line: SSRI
3rd line: SNRI (venlafaxine)
what SSRI is given in GAD
sertraline
what can be given as symptomatic relief in GAD
beta blockers for tremor
definition of panic disorders
recurrent attacks of severe anxiety (panic) which are unpredictable - not restricted to any particular situation
symptoms of a panic attack
sudden onset of palpitations, chest pain, choking sensation, dizziness + intense fear
definition of a panic attack
intense period of fear + physical + psychological anxiety symptoms
onset within a few minutes
what is agoraphobia
extreme/ irrational fear of open/public places
what happens in the brain during a panic attack
increased metabolism in the parahippocampal gyrus
where is the parahippocampal gyrus
anterior pole of temporal lobe
features of a phobia
fear recognised as irrational
leads to avoidance behaviour + anticipatory anxiety
definition of a specific phobia
a marked + persistent fear that is excessive/unreasonable
brought on by presence or anticipation of the specific object/situation
what happens when a person is exposed to their specific phobia
immediate anxiety response – panic attack
what is ephebiphobia
fear of young people
what is coulrophobia
fear of clowns
what is social anxiety disorder (SAD)
persistent fear of social situation which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people/scrutiny
symptoms of social anxiety disorder
common symptoms of anxiety blushing shaking fear of vomitting urgency/ fear of micturition/ defaecation
how is the brain affected in social anxiety
increased amygdala activity
what is health anxiety
preoccupation with having or acquiring serious illness
what is the extinction principle
if we expose a person to the stimulus gradually and they cope with the anxiety we slowly learn that the stimulus doesn’t signal fear and anxiety decreases
what is treatment using the extinction principal called
graded exposure
what is flooding
full exposure to the stimulus – keep exposure until the anxiety reduces and patient realises they are ok
principle of CBT
asking patients to question/test their thoughts
- influence emotions + behaviours
treatment of social phobia
1st CBT
2nd SSRI
3rd SNRIs
4th Benzodiazepines
treatment of a specific phobia
exposure therapy
SSRI if this fails and anxiety is severe
how long is treatment in GAD
at least 18 months
how long is treatment in panic disorder/ phobia
at least 6 months
