Anxiety & stress Flashcards
Define fear.
The acute response to an actual stressor
Define stress.
Feeling overwhelmed by current situational, environmental, or perceived pressures
Define anxiety.
Feelings towards a potential stressor.
Anxiety can be distinguished from normal emotions by which 4 features?
Autonomy
Intensity
Duration
Behaviour
How long must anxiety be experienced for to be diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder?
At least 6 months
What are the 6 criteria for the diagnosis of GAD, and how many of the 6 would a patient need to be diagnosed?
At least 3/6 for diagnosis
Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
Being easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbance
List the 7 main types of anxiety disorders.
GAD
Panic disorder
PTSD
OCD
Social phobia
Specific phobias
Acute stress disorder
Which brain structure is responsible for fear responses?
Amygdala
What is the main input nucleus of the amygdala?
Lateral nucleus
What is the main output nucleus of the amygdala?
Central nucleus
What are the 2 routes in which the thalamus can communicate with the amygdala?
Thalamo-amygdala pathway (short route)
Thalamocortico-amygdala pathway (long route)
In anxiety disorders, is activity in the prefrontal cortex increased or decreased?
Decreased
