Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
How long do the symptoms of panic disorder need to be present before a diagnosis can be made?
One month
Define
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
a disorder characterised by chronic, persistent anxiety and worry
Define
In vivo exposure
real-life exposure to the object or situation that is feared, such as exposure to a phobia (such as a snake) or returning to the location where the traumatic event has taken place
Definition
any of several drugs commonly used to treat anxiety, such as Valium and Xanax
Benzodiazepines
Definition
an alteration in perception of the self in which the individual loses a sense of reality and feels estranged from the self and perhaps separated from the body; may be a temporary reaction to stress and fatigue or part of panic disorder, depersonalization disorder or schizophrenia
Depersonalisation
Classical conditioning of panic attacks in response to bodily sensations is called what?
Interoceptive conditioning
Definition
Minor tranquilizers or benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders
Anxiolytics
What two steps does Mowrer’s model suggests are required for the development of an anxiety disorder?
- Through classical conditioning, a person learns to fear a neutral stimulus (the conditioned stimulus or CS) that is paired with an intrinsically aversive stimulus (the unconditioned stimulus or UCS)
- A person gains relief by avoiding the CS. Through operant conditioning, this avoidant response is maintained because it is reinforced
Define
Fear
a reaction to real or perceived immediate danger in the present; can involved arousal or sympathetic nervous system activity
Which anxiety disorder does this description fit?
Uncontrollable worry
Generalised anxiety disorder
Define
Panic disorder
an anxiety disorder in which the individual has sudden, inexplicable and frequent panic attacks
What treatment is most effective for social anxiety disorder?
Exposure therapies and cognitive strategies, such as teaching a person to focus less on internal thoughts and sensations
Define
Dissociation
a process whereby a group of mental processes is split off from the main stream of consciousness or behaviour loses its relationship with the rest of the personality
A well-validated treatment approach for panic disorder, based on the tendency of people with panic disorder to overreact to bodily sensations, is called
a) EMDR
b) PCT
c) ERP
d) ACT
b) PCT
What is the most validated psychological treatment for anxiety disorders?
Exposure treatment
Definition
disorders in which fear or anxiety is overriding; including phobic disorders, social anxiety disorders, panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and agoraphobia
Anxiety disorders
Define
Benzodiazepines
any of several drugs commonly used to treat anxiety, such as Valium and Xanax
Define
Mowrer’s two-factor model
Mowrer’s theory of avoidance learning according to which (1) fear is attached to a neutral stimulus by pairing it with a noxious unconditioned stimulus and (2) a person learns to escape the fear elicited by the conditioned stimulus, thereby avoiding the unconditioned stimulus
Define
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
any of various drugs that inhibit the presynaptic reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, such that both neurotransmitters with have more prolonged effects on postsynaptic neurons
Which brain structures make up the fear circuit?
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Locus coeruleus
Medial prefrontal cortex
Define
Fear circuit
set of brain structures, including the amygdala, that tend to be activated when the individual is feeling anxious or fearful; especially active among people with anxiety disorders
Define
Behavioural inhibition
the tendency to exhibit anxiety or to freeze when facing threat. In infants, it manifests as a tendency to become agitated and cry when facing novel stimuli and may be a heritable predisposition for the development of anxiety disorders
Definition
a reaction to real or perceived immediate danger in the present; can involved arousal or sympathetic nervous system activity
Fear
Definition
the tendency to exhibit anxiety or to freeze when facing threat. In infants, it manifests as a tendency to become agitated and cry when facing novel stimuli and may be a heritable predisposition for the development of anxiety disorders
Behavioural inhibition
Which anxiety disorder does this description fit?
Anxiety about recurrent panic attacks
Panic disorder
Define
Panic attack
a sudden attack of intense apprehension, terror and impending doom, accompanied by symptoms such as labored breathing, nausea, chest pain, feelings of choking and smothering, heart palpitations, dizziness, sweating and trembling
Many of the treatments for anxiety disorders share an emphasis on
a) talking about the past.
b) understanding irrational thoughts.
c) exposure.
d) hypnosis.
c) exposure.
Define
Prepared learning
in classical conditioning theory, a biological predisposition to associate particular stimuli readily with the unconditioned stimulus
Specific phobia
an unwarranted fear and avoidance of a specific object or circumstance, for example, fear of non-poisonous snakes or fears of heights
Which anxiety disorder does this description fit?
Fear of unfamiliar people or social scrutiny
Social anxiety disorder
Definition
set of brain structures, including the amygdala, that tend to be activated when the individual is feeling anxious or fearful; especially active among people with anxiety disorders
Fear circuit
Which anxiety disorder does this description fit?
Fear of objects or situations that is out of proportion to any real danger
Specific phobia
Define
Media prefrontal cortex
a region of the cortex in the anterior frontal lobes involved in executive function and emotion regulation that is implicated in mood and anxiety disorders
Definition
treatment for anxiety disorders that involves visualizing feared scenes for extended periods of time; frequently used in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder when in vivo exposure to the initial trauma cannot be conducted
Imaginal exposure
Definition
Mowrer’s theory of avoidance learning according to which (1) fear is attached to a neutral stimulus by pairing it with a noxious unconditioned stimulus and (2) a person learns to escape the fear elicited by the conditioned stimulus, thereby avoiding the unconditioned stimulus
Mowrer’s two-factor model
Definition
real-life exposure to the object or situation that is feared, such as exposure to a phobia (such as a snake) or returning to the location where the traumatic event has taken place
In vivo exposure
What are the DSM-5 criteria for panic disorder?
- People with panic disorder experience recurrent unexpected panic attacks
- Panic disorder can be diagnosed if the person experiences at least one month of concern or worry about the possibility of more attacks occurring or the consequences of an attack, or maladaptive behavioural changes because of the attacks
Definition
an unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension accompanied by increased physiological arousal; can be assessed by self-report, measuring physiological arousal and observing overt behaviour
Anxiety
Definition
a region of the cortex in the anterior frontal lobes involved in executive function and emotion regulation that is implicated in mood and anxiety disorders
Media prefrontal cortex
Which trait seen in babies may set the stage for the later development of anxiety disorders?
Behavioural inhibition
Define
Imaginal exposure
treatment for anxiety disorders that involves visualizing feared scenes for extended periods of time; frequently used in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder when in vivo exposure to the initial trauma cannot be conducted
Roughly what percentage of people with an anxiety disorder also have major depression?
60%
Definition
a disorder characterised by chronic, persistent anxiety and worry
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Define
Social anxiety disorder
a collection of fears linked to the presence of other people
What are the typical features of the medial prefrontal cortex of people with anxiety disorders?
Reduced activity levels
Define
Agoraphobia
literally, fear of the marketplace; anxiety disorder in which the person fears situations in which it would be embarrassing or difficult to escape if panic symptoms occurred; most commonly diagnosed in some individuals with panic disorder
Definition
a cognitive model for the aetiology of agoraphobia; suggests the condition is driven by negative thoughts about the consequences of having a panic attack in public
Fear-of-fear hypothesis
Definition
in classical conditioning theory, a biological predisposition to associate particular stimuli readily with the unconditioned stimulus
Prepared learning
What is the gender difference when it comes to anxiety disorders?
Women are more vulnerable to anxiety disorders than men
Definition
literally, fear of the marketplace; anxiety disorder in which the person fears situations in which it would be embarrassing or difficult to escape if panic symptoms occurred; most commonly diagnosed in some individuals with panic disorder
Agoraphobia
Define
Anxiety disorders
disorders in which fear or anxiety is overriding; including phobic disorders, social anxiety disorders, panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and agoraphobia
Define
Derealisation
loss of the sense that the surroundings are real; present in several psychological disorders, such as panic disorders, depersonalization disorder and schizophrenia
True or False:
At least half of all people with agoraphobia symptoms do not experience panic attacks
True
What are the DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety?
- People with social anxiety disorder have a marked and disproportionate fear consistently triggered by exposure to potential social scrutiny
- Exposure to trigger situations leads to intense anxiety about being evaluated negatively - these situations are avoided or else endured with intense anxiety
Define
Fear-of-fear hypothesis
a cognitive model for the aetiology of agoraphobia; suggests the condition is driven by negative thoughts about the consequences of having a panic attack in public
What is the DSM-5 criteria for specific phobia?
- A phobia is a marked and disproportionate fear consistently triggered by specific objects or situations
- The object or situation is avoided or else endured with intense anxiety
Define
Safety behaviours
behaviours used to avoid experiencing anxiety in feared situations, such as the tendency of people with social phobia to avoid looking at other people (so as to avoid perceiving negative feedback) or the tendency of people with panic disorder to avoid exercise (so as to avoid somatic arousal that could trigger a panic attack)
Define
Depersonalisation
an alteration in perception of the self in which the individual loses a sense of reality and feels estranged from the self and perhaps separated from the body; may be a temporary reaction to stress and fatigue or part of panic disorder, depersonalization disorder or schizophrenia
Define
Anxiolytics
Minor tranquilizers or benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders
Which brain structure is implicated in panic disorder?
Locus coeruleus
Definition
a process whereby a group of mental processes is split off from the main stream of consciousness or behaviour loses its relationship with the rest of the personality
Dissociation
Define
Anxiety
an unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension accompanied by increased physiological arousal; can be assessed by self-report, measuring physiological arousal and observing overt behaviour
What are the DSM-5 criteria for generalised anxiety disorder?
- People who meet the criteria for generalised anxiety disorder experience excessive anxiety and worry at least 50% of days about a number of events or activities (e.g., family, health, finances, work and school)
- The person finds it hard to control the worry
- The anxiety and worry are associated with at least three (or one in children) of the following:
- Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
- Easily fatigued
- Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbance
Definition
behaviours used to avoid experiencing anxiety in feared situations, such as the tendency of people with social phobia to avoid looking at other people (so as to avoid perceiving negative feedback) or the tendency of people with panic disorder to avoid exercise (so as to avoid somatic arousal that could trigger a panic attack)
Safety behaviours
What is the DSM-5 criteria that all anxiety disorders have in common?
- Symptoms interfere with important areas of functioning or cause marked distress
- Symptoms are not caused by a drug or a medical condition
- Symptoms persist for at least 6 months or at least 1 month for panic disorder
- The fears and anxieties are distant from the symptoms of another anxiety disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder typically begins during
a) early adulthood.
b) the oral stage.
c) midlife.
d) adolescence.
d) adolescence.
What treatment is most effective for GAD?
Cognitive-behavioural treatment which includes relaxation training, strategies to help a person tolerate uncertainty and face core fears, and specific tools to combat tendencies to worry
What treatment is most effective for specific phobias?
Exposure treatments
What treatment is most effective for panic disorder?
Exposure to somatic symptoms, along with cognitive technique to challenge catastrophic misinterpretations of those symptoms
What are the DSM-5 criteria for agoraphobia?
- People who meet the criteria for agoraphobia experience a disproportionate and marked fear or anxiety about at least two situations where it would be difficult to escape or receive help in the event of incapacitation, embarrassing symptoms or panic-like symptoms, such as being outside of the home alone; travelling on public transport; being in open space such as parking lots and marketplaces; being in enclosed spaces such as shops, theatres or cinemas; or standing in line or being in a crowd
- These fears consistently provoke fear or anxiety
- These situations are avoided, require the presence of a companion, or are endued with intense fear or anxiety
Definition
a sudden attack of intense apprehension, terror and impending doom, accompanied by symptoms such as labored breathing, nausea, chest pain, feelings of choking and smothering, heart palpitations, dizziness, sweating and trembling
Panic attack
What was social anxiety disorder called in the DSM-IV-TR?
Social phobia
Definition
the brain region in the fear circuit that is especially important in panic disorder; the major source in the brain of norepinephrine, which helps trigger sympathetic nervous system activity
Locus coeruleus
What do twin studies suggest about the heritability of specific phobias, social anxiety disorder and GAD?
20-40%
Which anxiety disorder does this description fit?
Anxiety about being in places where escaping or getting help would be difficult if anxiety symptoms occurred
Agoraphobia
Define
Interoceptive conditioning
classical conditioning of panic attacks in response to the internal bodily sensations of arousal (as opposed to the external situations that trigger anxiety)
Definition
any of various drugs that inhibit the presynaptic reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, such that both neurotransmitters with have more prolonged effects on postsynaptic neurons
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Specific phobias can be effectively treated by having the phobic person confront actual situations involving their feared object, a treatment method called
a) token distribution
b) operant exposure
c) in-vivo exposure
d) revisited systematic desensitization
c) in-vivo exposure
Definition
a collection of fears linked to the presence of other people
Social anxiety disorder
When does GAD typically begin?
Adolescence
Which personality trait is associated with high rates of anxiety?
Neuroticism
What do twin studies suggest about the heritability of panic disorder?
50%
What is the major source of norepinephrine in the brain?
Locus coeruleus
Definition
loss of the sense that the surroundings are real; present in several psychological disorders, such as panic disorders, depersonalization disorder and schizophrenia
Derealisation
Which three main cognitive factors are a leading cause of anxiety?
Sustained negative beliefs about the future
A perceived lack of control
Attention to signs of threat
What are the typical features of the amygdala in people with anxiety?
Elevated activity levels
Definition
an anxiety disorder in which the individual has sudden, inexplicable and frequent panic attacks
Panic disorder
Definition
an unwarranted fear and avoidance of a specific object or circumstance, for example, fear of non-poisonous snakes or fears of heights
Specific phobia
What factors increase the general risk for anxiety disorders?
- Behaviour conditioning (classical and operant conditioning)
- Genetic vulnerability
- Disturbances in the activity in the fear circuit of the brain
- Decreased functioning of GABA and serotonin; increased norepinephrine activity
- Behavioural inhibition
- Neuroticism
- Cognitive factors, including sustained negative beliefs, perceived lack of control and attention to cues of threat
Definition
classical conditioning of panic attacks in response to the internal bodily sensations of arousal (as opposed to the external situations that trigger anxiety)
Interoceptive conditioning
According to the DSM-5 criteria, for a diagnosis of panic disorder, a person must experience recurrent __________ panic attacks.
a) unexpected
b) situation-specific
c) persistent
d) life-threatening
a) unexpected
Define
Locus coeruleus
the brain region in the fear circuit that is especially important in panic disorder; the major source in the brain of norepinephrine, which helps trigger sympathetic nervous system activity
What does neurobiological research on anxiety focus on?
The brain’s fear circuit
