Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

What is a panic attack

Answer 1

Occur in all anxiety disorders
Discrete periods of intense fear or discomfort
Abrupt onset
Peaks within 10 mins, lasts about 20
Can occur during awake or asleep
4+ symptoms needed
Less than 4 means its a limited symptom panic attack

Question 2

Panic attack symptoms

Answer 2

Palpitations
Sweating
Trembling/shaking
Dyspnea
Choking sensations
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea of GI distress
Paresthesias (numbness or tingling)
Chills or hot flushes
Dizziness or faintness
Derealization or depersonalization
Fear of losing control or going crazy
Fear of dying

Question 3

Panic disorder

Answer 3

Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks

1+ month of persistent concern about further attacks, worry about implications and significant change in behaviour

Question 4

Agoraphobia

Answer 4

Typically a result of panic disorder
Fear of situations in which escape might be difficult or embarrassing if panic like symptoms occur
Feared situations are avoided or endured with dread

Question 5

Specific phobia

Answer 5

Severe, excessive persistent fear
Exposure evokes fear or panic
Avoidance
Recognizes fear is unreasonable

Question 6

How is blood-injection-injury different from other phobias?

Answer 6

All other phobias cause an increase in the ANS
This one causes an increase and then decrease (vasovagal response)
But also need the phobia of it happening again

Question 7

Social anxiety disorder

Answer 7

Severe, excessive and persistent fear of social interactions and/or social performance situations
Exposure to phobic objects evokes fear or panic
Extreme fear of negative evaluation
Person typically avoids
Recognizes that the fear is unreasonable

Question 8

Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer 8

Excessive anxiety and worry
Difficulty controlling worry
Associated symptoms (restless, tension, feeling on edge, concentration difficulties, irritability, insomnia)
Lasts at least 6 months

Question 9

Difference between obsessions and compulsions

Answer 9

Obsessions: recurrent, persistent thoughts, impulses or images. Intrusive and unwanted. Not simply excessive worries
Compulsions: repetitive behaviours or mental acts. Aimed at reducing distress or preventing harm

Question 10

Hoarding disorder

Answer 10

Difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value
Perceived need to save
Excessive accumulation and clutter
Poor insight usually accompanies this disorder

Question 11

4 symptoms in PTSD

Answer 11

Re-experiencing (nightmares, flashbacks)
Avoidance
Negative changes in mood and cognition
Hyperarousal

Question 12

How long do symptoms last in PTSD

Answer 12

1 month or more

Question 13

Latent inhibition

Answer 13

Learning to associate stimuli with lack of harm
Acquisition of “fearless familiarity”
Protects against fear acquisition

Question 14

Anxiety Sensitivity

Answer 14

Fear or arousal-related body sensations

Arises from beliefs about the consequences of the sensations (somatic, psychological, social)

Question 15

What are 2 really important questions to ask when looking for anxiety

Answer 15

Ask about feared consequences (insight into the nature of the disorder)
What do you do when you feel anxious? (insight into coping behaviours)

Question 16

First line treatments for anxiety

Answer 16

CBT

SSRIs