Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

Separation Anxiety Disorder Criteria

Answer 1

A. Developmentally inappropriate or excessive fear or anxiety concerning seperation from those to whose the individual is attached, AT LEAST 3 of these:

1. Recurrent excessive distress when anticipating or experiencing separation from home or major attachment figures
2. Persistent worry about losing major attachment figures or about possible harm to them
3. Persistent and excessive worry about experiencing an untoward event (getting lost or kidnapped) from a major attachment figure
4. Persistence reluctance or refusal to go out, away from home, to school, out of fear of seperation
5. Excessive fear of being alone or without attachment figure
6. Persistent reluctance or refusal to sleep away from home or to go to sleep
7. Repeated nightmares involving theme of seperation
8. Repeated complaints of physical symptoms when separated

B. Fear or anxiety, avoidance is persistent lasting 4 WEEKS in kids and 6 MONTHS in adults

C. Disturbance causes clinically significant distress

D. Not better explained elsewhere

Question 2

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) Criteria

Answer 2

A. Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others (ie meeting new people)
B. Individual fears they will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated
C. Social situations provoke fear and anxiety
D. The Social situations are avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety
E. The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the social situation and the context
F. The fear, anxiety or avoidance is persistent lasting 6 MONTHS or Marie
G. The fear, anxiety, avoidance causes clinically significant distress.
H The fear, anxiety, avoidance , is not due to a substance
I. The fear, anxiety, avoidance not better explaining by symptoms of another disorder
J. If another medical condition is present The fear, anxiety, avoidance is clearly unrelated or excessive

Question 3

Panic Disorder Criteria

Answer 3

A. Recurrent expected panic attacks. A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, during which 4 OR MORE occur:

1. Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
2. Sweating
3. Trembling or shaking
4. Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
5. Feelings of choking
6. Chest pains
7. Nausea or abdominal
8. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light headed
9. Chills or heat sensations
10. Numbness or tingling
11. Derealiztion or depersonalization
12. Fear of losing control or going crazy
13. Fear of dying

B. At least of the attacks has been followed by 1 MONTH of one or both of these

1. Persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences
2. A significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks (avoiding things that would cause an attack

C. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance

D. Cannot be explained by another disorder

Question 4

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Criteria

Answer 4

A. Excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for at least 6 MOMTHS about a number of events or activities

B. The individual finds it difficult to control the worry

C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms ( present more days than not for the past 6 MONTHS) one in kids

1. Restlessness or feeling keyed
2. Being easily fatigued
3. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
4. Irritability
5. Muscle Tension
6. Sleep Disturbance

D. The fear, anxiety, physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress

E. The disturbance is not attributable to substance

F. Not better explained by another disorder