Anxiety disorders Flashcards
3 main subtypes of anxiety
- Generalised
- Panic (paroxysmal)
- Phobic
What is state anxiety vs trait anxiety?
State anxiety = temporary stress in the face of threats
Trait anxiety = tendency to get stressed in anticipation of threats
According to ICD-10, how long should symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder have lasted for?
At least 6 months
ICD-10 criteria for generalised anxiety disorder
- Prominent worry about everyday events
- At least 1 symptom of autonomic arousal
- 3 other symptoms
4 symptoms of autonomic arousal in anxiety
- Palpitations
- Sweating
- Shaking/ tremor
- Dry mouth
5 Chest/ abdominal anxiety symptoms
- Difficulty breathing
- Choking feeling
- Chest/ abdo pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
3 Neuro anxiety symptoms
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Concentration difficulties
5 Tension anxiety symptoms
- Muscle tension, aches, pains
- Restlessness
- Feeling on edge
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lump in throat
6 General anxiety symptoms
- mood
- fears
- interaction with environment
- Easily startled
- Persistent irritability
- Fear of dying
- Fear of losing control
- Derealization
- Depersonalisation
What does derealisation mean
Feeling like surroundings are not real
What does depersonalisation mean
Feeling like self is not real
Lack of which neurotransmitters is involved in anxiety
GABA, serotonin, noradrenaline
According to ICD-10, how long must attacks have happened for a diagnosis of panic disorder
At least 1 month
ICD-10 criteria for panic disorder
- Discrete episode of intense fear or discomfort
- Starts abruptly
- Reaches a crescendo within a few minutes & lasts a few minutes
- At least 1 autonomic symptom
- Other symptoms (in GAD)
What is agoraphobia vs social phobia
Agoraphobia = fear of crowds, travelling alone
Social phobia = fear of being the focus of attention
According to ICD-10, how long must symptoms be present for a diagnosis of OCD
At least 2 weeks
4 features of obsessions or compulsions
- Failure to resist
- Originate from patient’s mind (no external influence)
- Repetitive, distressing, unreasonable
- Carrying out obsession/ compulsion is not in itself pleasurable, but reduces anxiety
What is an acute stress reaction
- After exceptional stress (eg road traffic accident)
- Onset within 1h, resolves within 48h
Difference between PTSD and Adjustment disorder
PTSD = significant life-threatening trauma
Adjustment disorder = psychosocial stressor eg loss of job/ relationship
In PTSD, onset of symptoms must occur within how many months?
Within 6 months of event
ICD-10 criteria for PTSD
- Stressful event
- Persistent reliving of event
- Avoiding similar situations
- Inability to recall important aspects of exposure to stressor OR persistent psychological sensitivity, arousal
What kind of symptoms does a PTSD patient who is reliving the event experience
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
(triggered by similar situations)
What kind of symptoms might an emotionally numb PTSD patient experience
- Detachment
- Anhedonia
- Negative thoughts about oneself
In adjustment disorder, what is the time period for symptoms?
Onset within 1 month
Present for less than 6 months
