Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
Anxiety Disorder
Characterised by Marked and Persistent Mental
and Physical symptoms of Anxiety not secondary
to another disorder and impacts negatively on
individual’s life
o Most common Psychiatric disorder (LTR
13%); Either Primary, or in response to
stress associated to other physical illness
or treatment
Subdivisions of anxiety disorders
Sub-divided into Generalised Anxiety, Phobic and
Panic disorders; Mixed states are common
(=Minor Mood Disorders); Often with Depressive
Disorders and treated as Mood disorders
o GAD (Continuous Symptoms), Panic
(Episodic to any situation) and Phobic
(Particular Situations: Simple, Social or
Agora); Also, can be Mixed (Agoraphobia
with Panic)
Normal Anxiety
Response to threat; Feeling of Apprehension Plus Physiological response;
Attention and Concentration focussed on threat;
Beneficial response
Abnormal Anxiety
Similar; Out of proportion to threat, or more prolonged, or occurs when there is no threat; Difference also that attention is not onto external threat, but onto physiological response itself (Cycle of Anxiety) ▪ Further Autonomic arousal due to perception of physiological response as threatening; Drives further anxiety regarding response o Abnormal Anxiety becomes relevant when distress or impairment to ADL
GAD
• 2F:M; Caucasian, Lower SES; Peaks at 21yrs and
between 40-59yrs (Midlife)
• Excessive, Uncontrolled, Irrational worry about
Everyday events that are out of proportion to actual source of worry; Impairing function as patient typically Catastrophises and becomes overly concerned with normal issues (E.g.
Health, Relationships, Occupation, Finances)
o Related to Stress and Adjustment Disorder (if symptoms occur for a shorter time)
GAD Aetiology
Aetiology believed to be Genetic (5×RR if relatives), Neurobiological (Increased SNS activity
and reduced HPA Axis negative feedback), Childhood (Inconsistent parenting, Poor
attachments, Chaotic lifestyles) and Personality Traits
Diagnosis of GAD
Excessive Anxiety + Worry most days for >weeks about a number of ordinary events or activities which are difficult to control; >3/6 of Restlessness, Fatigability, Irritability, Muscle
Tension, Insomnia/Poor sleep, Poor concentration; Symptoms cause clinically significant
distress/impairment to function, and not due to Substance, General medical conditions, and
does not occur during Mood/Psychotic and Pervasive Developmental Disorder
GAD Symptoms
o Physical symptoms reflect overactivity of SNS and skeletal muscle tension
o Sleep is characteristically described as difficultly settling and intermittent waking; Often unpleasant dreams and nightmares; Early waking and failure to settle after also see in Depressive Disorder
o Can also have Panic Attacks (Sudden episodes of very severe anxiety) but more
common in Panic Disorder
GAD Associations
• Co-morbid with Depressive Disorder, Social Phobia and Panic Disorder; Also, ETOH misuse and
Drug Abuse frequently co-occur
o DDx – Depressive Disorder (ask about Depressive Symptoms), Schizophrenia (Ask about Psychotic Symptoms), Dementia (Formal assessment of Memory), Drugs
(ETOH, Cannabis, Antidepressants/psychotics, Caffeine), Thyroid, Phaeo, Arrhythmia
Management of GAD
• Step 1: Identification and Assessment, Education (E.g. Self Help, Sleep aids), Active Monitoring
• Step 2: CBT-based Self-Help, Psychoeducation
• Step 3: High Intensity Psychological Interventions (CBT, Applied Relaxation) or
Pharmacotherapy (SSRI First-line Setraline, or alternative SSRI or SNRI if ineffective); Offer Pregabalin if unable to tolerate SSRI or SNRI
o Benzodiazepines should only be offered for Short-term for Crisis; Antipsychotics
should not be used
• Step 4: Specialist Assessment
Panic Disorder
• 2F:M, Urban, Lower SES, Physical/Sexual Abuse; Peak 15-24yrs and 45-55yrs, rare after 65yrs
• Etymology of Panic: The Greek god Pan inspiring fear into people and animals when they
were alone; Without warning and all of a sudden
o Unprovoked, Spontaneous nature
o Essential for Recognition and Diagnosis
• 9% of population experiences Panic attack without lifetime; Associated with significant social
and occupational disability
Panic Attacks
Cluster of Symptoms that develop rapidly, lasting a few minutes, and during
which person fears some catastrophe will occur
o Palpitations, Tachycardia, Sweating and Flushing, Trembling, Dyspnoea, Chest
Discomfort, Nausea, Dizziness, Fainting, Depersonalisation
o Spontaneously without Provocation; One to two per week is usual
o Can lead to Agoraphobia due to avoidance of areas of panic attacks
Aetiology of Panic Disorder
Genetics (7-8× if Relatives); Biochemical Hypothesis (Imbalance of Neurotransmitter activity), Cognitive Hypothesis (Fearful cognitions regarding physical
symptoms of anxiety)
Diagnosis of Panic Disorder
• Recurrent Unexpected Panic Attacks plus at least one attack being followed by ≥1/12 of ≥1 of
the following: Persistent concern of further attacks, worrying about implications and
Significant change in behaviour related to attacks
• Not due to direct physiological effects of substance or other condition
• Panic attacks not accounted for by another disorder e.g. Social Phobia, Specific Phobia, OCD,
PTSD or Separation Anxiety Disorder
DDx of Panic Disorder
Other Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, PTSD, OCD, Drugs (Intoxication or
Withdrawal); Endocrine, Cardiac or Respiratory Disorders
• Co-morbid with Agoraphobia (3/4rds), Half fit diagnostic criteria of Depressive Disorder
Management of Panic Disorder
• Benzodiazepines only in short term; Sedating Antihistamines and Antipsychotics should not
be prescribed for Panic Disorder
• Step 1: Recognition and Diagnosis; Need to exclude acute physical problems if presenting
with Panic attack (E.g. ECG, Trop)
• Step 2 and 3: Psychological Intervention (E.g. CBT), Pharmacotherapy (SSRIs e.g. Citalopram
and TCAs e.g. Clomipramine, Imipramine) trial for 12/52 and change if no improvement,
Bibliotherapy (Self-help based on CBT principles)
• Step 4-5: Referral to Specialist service; Reassessment, Treatment of Co-morbid, CBT with
experienced staff, Pharmacotherapy
