Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, Trauma/Stressor Flashcards
What is anxiety?
Defined as individual’s emotional & physical fear response to a perceived threat
What is pathologic anxiety?
Occurs when symptoms are excessive, irrational, out of proportion to the trigger or are without an identifiable trigger
What is maladaptive anxiety?
Persists longer & feels more intense than transient, situational anxiety
What are anxiety disorders?
Criteria for most anxiety disorders involve symptoms that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social and/or occupational functioning
Caused by combo of genetic, biological, environmental, & psychosocial factors
Primary anxiety disorders can only be diagnosed after determining that signs & symptoms are NOT due to physiological effects of substance, meds, or medical condition
Late-onset anxiety symptoms without prior or family psychiatric history should increase suspicion of anxiety caused by another medical condition or substance
Most common form of psychopathology
Lifetime prevalence: women 30%, men 19%
More frequently seen in women compared to men (2:1 ratio)
What are the major neurotransmitter systems implicated in anxiety disorders?
Norepinephrine (NE)
Serotonin (5-HT)
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Treatment of anxiety disorders
Based on level of symptom impairment
Consider psychotherapy for milder presentations
Initiating combination treatment w/ pharmacotherapy for moderate to severe anxiety
What is the assessment for psychopathology based on?
Based on if patient’s symptoms are causing Social and/or Occupational Dysfunction (SOD)
Signs & symptoms of anxiety
Constitutional:
- Fatigue
- Diaphoresis
- Shivering
Cardiac:
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
- Tachycardia
- Hypertension
Pulmonary:
- Shortness of breath
- Hyperventilation
Neurologic / MSK:
- Vertigo
- Lightheadedness
- Paresthesias
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Muscle tension
GI:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Emesis
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Meds & substances that cause anxiety
Alcohol (intoxication / withdrawal)
Sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics (withdrawal)
Cannabis (intoxication)
Hallucinogens - PCP, LSD, MDMA (intoxication)
Stimulants - amphetamines, cocaine (intoxication / withdrawal)
Caffeine (intoxication)
Tobacco (intoxication / withdrawal)
Opioids (withdrawal)
Medical conditions that cause anxiety
Neurologic:
- Epilepsy
- Migraines
- Brain tumors
- MS
- Huntington’s disease
Endocrine:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Hypoglycemia
- Pheochromocytoma
- Carcinoid syndrome
Metabolic:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Porphyria
Respiratory:
- Asthma
- COPD
- Hypoxia
- PE
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
Cardiovascular:
- CHF
- Angina
- Arrhythmia
- MI
Treatment for anxiety disorders
PHARMACOTHERAPY First-line: SSRIs, SNRIs Benzodiazepines Nonaddicdting anxiolytic alternatives for PRN use - diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine Buspirone Beta-blockers TCAs & MAOIs
Pharmacologic goal is to achieve symptomatic relief & continue treatment for at least 6 months before attempting to titrate off medications
Medications can reduce symptoms enough so that a patient can participate in therapy
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
SSRI treatment for anxiety disorders
E.g. sertraline
Typically take about 4-6 weeks to become fully effective
Higher doses (than used in treating depression) are generally required
Benzodiazepines treatment for anxiety disorders
Enhance GABA at GABA-A receptor
If patient has cormobid depressive disorder, consider alternatives to benzos as they may worsen depression
Used to temporarily bridge patients until long-term meds becomes effective
Work quickly & effectively, but they all can be addictive
- Minimize use, duration, & dose
Should be avoided in patients w/ history of substance use disorders
Consider nonaddicting anxiolytic alternatives for PRN use = diphenhydramie, hydroxyzine
Buspirone treatment for anxiety disorders
5-HT1A partial agonist
Non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic
Not commonly used due to minimal efficacy & often only prescribed augmentation
Beta-blockers treatment for anxiety disorders
E.g. Propranolol
May be used to help control autonomic symptoms (e.g. palpitations, tachycardia, sweating) w/ panic attacks or performance anxiety (use the Bs to Block the Ps)
TCAs & MAOIs treatment for anxiety disorders
May be considered if first-line agents are not effective
Their side-effect profile makes them less tolerable
CBT treatment for anxiety disorders
Proven effective for anxiety disorders
Examines relationship between anxiety-driven conditions (thoughts), emotions, & behavior
Psychodynamic psychotherapy treatment for anxiety disorders
Facilitates understanding & insight into development of anxiety & ultimately increases anxiety tolerance
What are panic attacks?
Type of fear response involving an abrupt surge of intense anxiety which may be triggered or occur spontaneously
Attacks peak within mins. & usually resolve within half an hour
May continue to feel anxious for hours afterwards & confuse this for a prolonged panic attack
Although classically associated w/ panic disorder, panic attacks can also be experienced w/ panic disorder, panic attacks can be experienced with other anxiety disorders, psychiatric disorders, & other medical conditions
Symptoms of panic attacks
Da PANICS:
- Dizziness, Disconnectedness, Derealization (unreality), Depersonalization (detached from self)
Palpitations, Paresthesias
Abdominal distress
Numbness, Nausea
Intense fear of dying, losing control, or “going crazy”
Chills, Chest pain
Sweating, Shaking, Shortness of breath
What are panic disorders?
Characterized by spontaneous, recurrent panic attacks
Attacks occur suddenly, “out of the blue”
May experience panic attacks w/ a clear trigger
Frequency of attacks ranges from multiple times per day to a few monthly
Develop debilitating anticipatory anxiety about having future attacks - “fear of the fear”
- Can lead to avoidance behaviors & become so severe as to leave patients homebound (i.e. agoraphobia)
Smoking is a risk factor for panic attacks
Diagnosis & DSM-V criteria of panic disorders
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks without an identifiable trigger
1 or more panic attakcs followed by >=1 month of continuous worry about experiencing subsequent attacks or their consequences and/or maladaptive change in behaviors (e.g. avoidance of possible triggers)
Not cause by direct effects of substance, another mental disorder, or another medical condition
When patient presents w/ panic attack, rule out potentially life-threatening medical conditions (e.g. heart attack, thyrotoxicosis, thromboembolism)
Etiology of panic disorders
Genetic factors:
- Greater risk if first-degree relative affected
Psychosocial factors:
- Increase incidence of stressors (especially loss) prior to onset of disorder
- History of childhood physical or sexual abuse
Epidemiology of panic disorders
Lifetime prevalence: 4%
Higher rate in women compared to men (2:1 ratio)
Median age of onset: 20-24 years old
Course & prognosis of panic disorders
Panic disorder has chronic course w/ waxing & waning symptoms
- Relapses are common w/ discontinuation of medical therapy
Only minority of patients has full remission of symptoms
Up to 65% of patients w/ panic disorder have major depression
Other comorbid syndromes:
- Other anxiety disorders (especially agoraphobia)
- Bipolar disorder
- Alcohol use disorder
Carefully screen patients w/ panic attacks for suicidality
- They are at an increased risk for suicide attempts
Treatment of panic disorders
Most effective: pharmacotherapy & CBT
- First line: SSRIs (e.g. sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram)
- Start SSRIs or SNRIs at low doses & increase slowly because side effects may initially worsen anxiety, especially in panic disorder
- Can switch to TCAs (clomipramine, imipramine) if SSRIs are not effective
- Can use benzodiazepines (clonazepam, lorazepam) as scheduled or PRN, especially until other meds reach full efficacy
What is agoraphobia?
Intense fear of being in public places where escape or obtaining help may be difficult:
- Bridges
- Crowds
- Buses
- Trains
- Open areas outside the home
Often develops w/ panic disorder
Course of disorder is chronic
Avoidance behaviors may become as extreme as complete confinement to home
Diagnosis & DSM-V criteria of agoraphobia
Intense fear/anxiety about >2 situations due to concern of difficulty escaping or obtaining help in case of panic or other humiliating symptoms:
- Outside of the home alone
- Open spaces (e.g. bridges)
- Enclosed places (e.g. stores)
- Public transportation (e.g. trains)
- Crowds / lines
Triggering situations cause fear / anxiety out of proportion to potential danger posed, leading to endurance of intense anxiety, avoidance, or requiring companion
- Holds true even if patient suffers from medical condition (e.g. IBS) which may lead to embarrassing public scenarios
Symptoms cause significant social or occupational dysfunction
Symptoms last >= 6 months
Symptoms not better explained by another mental disorder
Etiology of agoraphobia
Strong genetic factor:
- Heritability abut 60%
Psychosocial factor:
- Onset frequently follows traumatic event
Course / prognosis of agoraphobia
> 50% of patients experience panic attack prior to developing agoraphobia
Onset is usually before age 35
Course is persistent & chronic, w/ rare full remission
Comorbid diagnoses include other anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, & substance use disorders
Treatment of agoraphobia
Similar approach as panic disorder:
- CBT & SSRIs (for panic symptoms)
Common domains of social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
Speaking in public
Eating in public
Using public restrooms
What is a phobia?
Irrational fear that leads to endurance of anxiety and/or avoidance of feared object or situation
Phobia may develop in wake of negative or traumatic encounters w/ stimulus
What is a specific phobia?
Intense fear of specific object or situation (i.e. phobic stimulus)
What is social anxiety disorder (social phobia)?
Fear of scrutiny by others or fear of acting in humiliating or embarrassing way
Social situations causing significant anxiety may be avoided altogether, resulting in social & academic / occupational impairment
Substance use & depressive disorders frequently co-occur w/ phobias