Anxiolytics Flashcards
Anxiety vs. Fear
What do they have in common?
Anxiety: Apprehension about a future threat
Fear: Response to an immediate threat
Both involve physiological arousal of Sympathetic nervous system
Both can be adaptive
* Fear triggers “fight or flight” which May save life
* Anxiety increases preparedness
How does anxiety affect performance?
Absence of anxiety interferes with performance
* Moderate levels of anxiety improve performance and efficiency (stimulant)
* High levels of anxiety are detrimental to performance (pathological (disabling))
Types of anxiety
Mild, Moderate, Severe
How does anxiety differ from other mental disorders?
Unlike other mental disorders, anxiety can be both:
a normal emotion
and a psychiatric illness
characteristics of Mild Anxiety ?
Increased alertness
Broad field of perception
Enhances learning and
performance
Characteristics of Moderate Anxiety ?
Perceptual field narrows
Tunes out stimuli
Focused on one task
Decreased attention span and Problem solving ability
Characteristics of Severe Anxiety ?
Narrow or distorted perception and cognition
Flight of ideas
Physical symptoms problematic
Behavior directed toward relief of discomfort
What are the five types of anxiety disorders?
Specific phobias (most common)
Social anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Agoraphobia
Generalized anxiety disorder
What are the risk factors of anxiety?
Genetic
Neurobiological
Fear circuit- over activity
Neurotransmitters
* Poor functioning of serotonin
and GABA
* Higher levels of norepinephrine
Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)
Glutamate
most important inhibitory transmitter in the CNS.
excitatory.
Efflux vs. Influx
Efflux: The movement of substances out of a cell or organelle
Influx: The movement of substances into a cell or organelle.
What is Anterograde Amnesia?
Anterograde amnesia is a condition where a person cannot form new memories after the onset of brain damage.
Past (pre-existing) memories remain intact, but the ability to store and recall new information is impaired.
Ataxia
neurological condition characterized by loss of coordination, affecting balance, gait, speech, and fine motor skills.
Rebound Insomnia
worsened difficulty in falling or staying asleep after stopping sleep medications, especially benzodiazepines (BZDs) or Z-drugs (e.g., zolpidem).
Somnolence
Somnolence (excessive sleepiness or drowsiness)
Postural (Orthostatic) Hypotension
Postural (Orthostatic) Hypotension refers to a drop in blood pressure when standing up, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
Benzodiazepines
USES
Generalized anxiety disorders, OCD, phobia , panic attack
Adverse effects
Ataxia, confusion, dependence, tolerance ,withdrawal symptoms,
SSRIs
(Fluoxetine)
Uses
Generalized anxiety disorders ,OCD, phobia, panic attack
Adverse effects
weight gain ,sexual dysfunction
Dry mouth
Tricyclic antidepressants
(Amitriptyline ,imipramine
Uses
anxiety with depression.
panic attacks
Adverse effects
weight gain, sexual dysfunction,
5HT1Aagonists
(Buspirone)
Uses
Mild anxiety
Not effective in panic attack
Adverse effects
Minimal adverse effects
Betablockers
(propranolol atenolol)
Uses
Phobia (social Phobia)
Adverse effects
Hypotension
MAO inhibitors
Phenelzine
Uses
Panic attack, phobia
