Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
SEPARATION ANXIETY DISORDER
Essential feature of separation anxiety disorder is excessive fear or anxiety concerning
separation from home or attachment figures
Description: An increased and inappropriate anxiety around separation from and/or loss of attachment figures, which is developmentally abnormal and results in impaired functioning.
Signs and Symptoms: Anxiety about actual or anticipated separation from or danger
to attachment figure
Refusing to be away from home because of fear of separation
Reluctance or refusing to sleep away from home without a parent or other loved one nearby
Not wanting to be home alone and without a parent or
other loved one in the house
Repeated nightmares about separation
Frequent complaints of headaches, stomachaches or other `symptoms when separation from a parent or other loved one is
anticipated
SELECTIVE MUTISM
Description: A disorder that is characterized by a lack of speech in one or more contexts or settings.
Signs and Symptoms: Anxiety, Social withdrawal, Excessive shyness, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Depression.
Criteria: Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which there is an expectation
for speaking (e.g., at school) despite speaking in other situations
The disturbance interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social
communication.
The duration of the disturbance is at least 1 month (not limited to the first month of
school).
The failure to speak is not attributable to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort with, the
spoken language required in the social situation.
The disturbance is not better explained by a communication disorder (e.g., childhood-onset fluency disorder) and does not occur exclusively during the course of autism
spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, or another psychotic disorder
SPECIFIC PHOBIA
A key feature of this disorder is that the fear or anxiety is circumscribed to the presence of a
particular situation or object
Description: intense, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger.
Signs and Symptoms: PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS Racing heart, Difficulty in breathing , sweating, Nausea chest pain EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS Feeling overwhelming anxiety, Knowing the fear is irrational
Intervention: PSYCHOTHERAPY (DESENSITIZATION)
MEDICATION
(SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIS)
AND MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIS))
PANIC DISORDER
Description: An acute intense attack of anxiety accompanied
by feelings of impending doom is
known as panic disorder.
Sign and Symptoms: Recurrent unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, and during which time four of the following symptoms occur Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate. Sweating Trembling or shaking Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering Feelings of choking. Chest pain or discomfort. Nausea or abdominal distress. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint. Chills or heat sensations. Paresthesia (numbness or tingling sensations). Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself). Fear of losing control or “going crazy Fear of dying.
AGORAPHOBIA
Description: A condition in which the patient experiences anxiety in situations that are unfamiliar, from which they cannot escape, or in which they perceive they have little control.
Signs and Symptoms: Anticipatory anxiety
Anxious thoughts (with themes of fainting or losing control)
Marked fear or anxiety about two (or more) of the following five situations:
1. Using public transportation (e.g., automobiles, buses, trains, ships, planes).
2. Being in open spaces (e.g., parking lots, marketplaces, bridges).
3. Being in enclosed places (e.g., shops, theaters, cinemas).
4. Standing in line or being in a crowd.
5. Being outside of the home alone
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
Description: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrolled, and irrational worry about everyday things that is out of proportion to the actual source of the worry.
Signs and Symptoms: PSYCHOLOGICAL Fearful anticipation Irritability Sensitivity to noise Restlessness Poor concentration Depression Obsessions Depersonalization PHYSICAL Difficulty in swallowing Difficulty inhaling Over breathing Palpitations Discomfort in chest Menstrual discomfort Tremor
PANIC ATTACK
Description: A period of intense fear or terror characterized by a constellation of symptoms that develop rapidly, reach a peak of intensity in about 10min, and generally do not last longer than 20–30min (rarely over 1hr).
Signs and Symptoms: 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 pain or discomfort. 7. Nausea or abdominal distress.
SOCIAL ANXIETY
Description: The individual is fearful or anxious about or avoidant of social interactions and
situations that involve the possibility of
being scrutinized.
Signs and Symptoms: Blushing, sweating, fast heartbeat, avoiding social interaction,
Overanalyzing social situations.
