Anxiety disorders Flashcards
What are anxiety disorder?
Disorders where anxiety is the main symptom
Feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes
Recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns
What are the different types of anxiety disorders?
Generalised anxiety disorder - persistent anxiety
Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder - equal elements of anxiety and depression
Panic disorder - diagnosed when patient has repeated, sudden attacks of overwhelming anxiety, accompanied by severe physical symptoms
Phobic disorders - fear triggered by a stimulus that are predictable and are normally no concern to others
What are the risk factors for anxiety disorders?
Trauma Stress Personality type Other mental health disorders Having blood relative with anxiety Drugs or alcohol
What might the behaviour and appearance of a patient with anxiety be like?
Looking apprehensive or fearful, difficulty concentrating, restlessness
Unkempt
Lose fitting clothes if lost weight
What might the speech of someone with anxiety disorder be like?
Fast and anxious
What might the emotion of someone with anxiety disorder be like?
Mood - apprehension/fear or irritable
Affect - may vary
What might the perception of someone with anxiety disorder be like?
Derealisation
Depersonalisation
What might the thoughts of someone with anxiety disorder be like?
Worried
Apprehension
Fear
Fast thoughts
How common are anxiety disorders?
GAD - 4-6% of population, more common in women
Mixed - 7% prevalence
8% prevalence of phobias
What are the psychiatric differentials of anxiety disorder?
Depressive illness OCD Pre-senile dementia Alcohol dependence Drug dependence Benzodiazepine withdrawal
What are the organic differentials of anxiety disorder?
Hyperthyroidism
Hypoglycaemia
Phaeochromocytoma
Arrhythmias
What are the physical symptoms of anxiety?
GI Resp CVS GU Nervous system
What are the GI symptoms of anxiety?
Dry mouth Difficulty swallowing Epigastric discomfort Aeophagy Diarrhoea
What are the resp symptoms of anxiety?
Feeling of chest constriction
Difficulty inhaling
Over-breathing
Choking
What are the CVS symptoms of anxiety?
Palpitations
Awareness of missed beats
Chest pain
What are the GU symptoms of anxiety?
Increased frequency
Failure of erection
Lack of libido
What are the nervous symptoms of anxiety?
Fatigue Blurred vision Dizziness Sensitivity to noise and/or light Headache Sleep disturbance Trembling
What are the psychological symptoms of anxiety?
Apprehension and fear Irritability Difficulty concentrating Distractibility Restlessness Depersonalisation Derealisation
What investigations are done for someone with anxiety?
Physical examination History FBC, U&E, serum creatinine, eGFR ESR/CRP TSH Serum cortisol Kidney USS Afrenaline in blood and urine tests Glucose levels, HbA1c CXR ECG